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, down deep in the underworld or up high in the heavens.” Ahaz replied: “I will not ask. I will not put the Lord to the test.”

Then Isaiah said: “Listen, house of David: Not satisfied with wearying men, do you also want to weary my God? Therefore, the Lord himself will give you this sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means God-with-us.”

Second reading

Reading from the letter to the Hebrews 

Hebrews 10:4-10

Brothers and sisters: It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore, upon entering the world, Christ said, as the psalm states: You did not desire sacrifice or offering; but you have prepared a body for me. Holocausts or sin offerings you took no delight in. Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll, Behold, I come to do your will, O God.’

He says first: You did not desire sacrifice or offering, you took no delight in holocausts or sin offerings –which are prescribed by the law–; then he says: Behold, I come to do your will. O God, I come to do your will.

Thus, he abolishes the first to establish the second. And by this ‘will,’ we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

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 where she was and said to her: “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then 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 of his kingdom there will be no end.”

But 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, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.” Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.