First Reading

Reading from the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 7:10-14

In those days, the Lord spoke to Ahaz saying: “Ask the Lord your God for a sign from the depths below or from the heights above.” Ahaz replied: “I will not ask. I will not put the Lord to the test.”

Then Isaiah said: “Listen, house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men; must you also weary my God? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God-with-us.”

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 1:26-38

At that time, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

The angel entered her presence and said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” She was greatly troubled at this and wondered what such a greeting might mean.

The angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his reign will have no end.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” The angel answered her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. Behold, your kinswoman Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God.” Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.