‭When Zechariah saw him, he was shaken and overwhelmed with fear.

But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to name him John.

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth.

He will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.

He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.

And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous. He will prepare the people for the coming of the Lord.

The Lord has done this for me,” Elizabeth said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

‭The angel went to Mary and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God."

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!

And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.

He shows mercy to all who fear him, from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away with empty hands.

He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, just as he promised our ancestors.

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

"Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has visited his people and redeemed them."

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.”

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him.

You will tell his people how to find salvation through forgiveness of their sins.

Because of the tender mercy of our God, the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us to the path of peace.

Mary gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them: and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will bring great joy for all the people.

Today a Savior has been born to you in the city of David. He is the Christ, the Lord.

You will recognise by this sign: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly the angel was joined by a great company of the heavenly host - praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to those God is pleased."

Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.‬

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon. He was righteous and devout. He was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was on him.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.

The Spirit led him to the temple courts. When the parents brought in baby Jesus to do what the Law required, Simeon was there. He took him in his arms and praised God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, you may now dismiss your servant in peace, as you have promised.

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

There was also a prophet, Anna, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband for seven years before he died.

And then she lived as a widow to the age of 84. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Coming up to them at that very moment, she began praising God. She spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.

And the child grew up healthy and strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

After three days they found Jesus in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions.

Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.

Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and all the people.