First Reading

First reading

Reading from the book of Isaiah 

Isaiah 7:10-14

In those days, the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying: «Ask for a sign from the Lord your God, 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 this sign: the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us’.»

Second reading

Reading from the letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Romans

Romans 1:1-7

Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy scriptures, concerns his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh, but established as Son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;

to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew

Matthew 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, «Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.»

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means ‘God is with us’.

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.