December 22

Luke 1:26-38

26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!" 29 But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. 30 And the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."

34 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?"

35 And 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. 36 And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 And Mary said, "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her.

Grant, Almighty God,
that as Thou hast been once pleased not only to adopt
us as Thy children but also to unite us to Thyself
by the bond of marriage and to give us a pledge of this
sacred union in Thine only begotten Son –
O grant that we may continue in the faith of Thy gospel
and so honestly keep the pledge given to Thee that
Thou mayest also show Thyself to us as a husband
and as a father,
and that we may to the end find in Thee
that merciful kindness that is needful to retain us in
the holy fear of Thy name, until we shall at length
enjoy fellowship with Thee in Thy celestial kingdom,
through Christ our Lord. Amen.