First Reading

Isaiah 9, 1-3. 5-6

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who lived in the land of shadows,
a resplendent light has shone.

You have enlarged your people
and made their joy great.
They rejoice in your presence as they rejoice at the harvest,
as they rejoice when dividing the spoils.
For you have broken their heavy yoke,
the bar that oppressed their shoulders and the scepter of their tyrant,
as in the day of Midian.

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us;
he bears upon his shoulders the sign of dominion and his name shall be:
«»Wonderful Counselor»», «»Mighty God»»,
«»Everlasting Father»», «»Prince of Peace»»;
to extend his dominion with boundless peace
upon the throne of David and over his kingdom;
to establish and consolidate it
with justice and right, from now and forever.
The zeal of the Lord will accomplish it.

Gospel

Luke 1, 26-38

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

The angel entered where she was and said to her: «»Rejoice, full of grace, the Lord is with you»». Upon hearing these words, she was greatly troubled 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. You will conceive and bear a son and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will have no end»».

Mary then said to the angel: «»How can this be, since I remain a virgin?»» The angel answered her: «»The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the Holy One who is to be born of you will be called Son of God. Behold, your relative Elizabeth, who in her old age has conceived a son and is already in her sixth month, she who was called barren, for nothing is impossible with God»». Mary replied: «»I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word»». And the angel departed from her presence.