-
Both were righteous in God’s sight, living without blame according to all the commands and requirements of the Lord.
-
it happened that he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and burn incense.
-
An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing to the right of the altar of incense.
-
There will be joy and delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth.
-
For he will be great in the sight of the Lord and will never drink wine or beer. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit while still in his mother’s womb.
-
He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.
-
And he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the disobedient to the understanding of the righteous, to make ready for the Lord a prepared people.”
-
“How can I know this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “For I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”
-
“The Lord has done this for me. He has looked with favor in these days to take away my disgrace among the people.”
-
And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”
-
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.
-
And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless.
-
“See, I am the Lord’s servant,” said Mary. “May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.
-
How could this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
-
For you see, when the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby leaped for joy inside me.
-
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”
-
Mary’s Praise
And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord,
-
because the Mighty One has done great things for me, and his name is holy.
-
His mercy is from generation to generation on those who fear him.
-
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering his mercy
-
Then her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her his great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.
-
He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.
-
All who heard about him took it to heart, saying, “What then will this child become?” For, indeed, the Lord’s hand was with him.
-
Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited and provided redemption for his people.
-
And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
