First Reading

Acts 1, 12-14

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived in the city, they went up to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All of them were persevering together in prayer, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, with the relatives of Jesus and some women.

Luke 1, 26-38

In those days, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man of the house of David, named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary.

The angel entered where she was and said to her: “Hail, 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 give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the 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 kingdom will have no end.”

Mary then said to the angel: “How can this be, since I am 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 child to be born will be holy, and will be called the Son of God. Behold, your relative Elizabeth, who was said to be barren, has also conceived a son in her old age, and she is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God.” Mary replied: “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Gospel

Luke 1, 26-38

In those days, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man of the house of David, named Joseph. The virgin’s name was Mary.

The angel entered where she was and said to her: “Hail, 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 give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the 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 kingdom will have no end.”

Mary then said to the angel: “How can this be, since I am 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 child to be born will be holy, and will be called the Son of God. Behold, your relative Elizabeth, who was said to be barren, has also conceived a son in her old age, and she is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible with God.” Mary replied: “I am the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.