December 12, 2014

Reading

Revelation   11: 19, 12: 1-6, 10

11:19

And the temple of God was opened in heaven. And the Ark of his Testament was seen in his temple. And there were lightnings and voices and thunders, and an earthquake, and great hail.

Revelation 12

12:1	And a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet, and on her head was a crown of twelve stars.
12:2	And being with child, she cried out while giving birth, and she was suffering in order to give birth.
12:3	And another sign was seen in heaven. And behold, a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems.
12:4	And his tail drew down a third part of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman, who was about to give birth, so that, when she had brought forth, he might devour her son.
12:5	And she brought forth a male child, who was soon to rule all the nations with an iron rod. And her son was taken up to God and to his throne.
12:6	And the woman fled into solitude, where a place was being held ready by God, so that they might pasture her in that place for one thousand two hundred and sixty days.
12:10	And I heard a great voice in heaven, saying: “Now have arrived salvation and virtue and the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ. For the acuser of our brothers has been cast down, he who accused them before our God day and night.

Gospel

Luke   1: 26-38

1:26 Then, in the sixth month, the Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.

1:28 And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”

1:29 And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.

1:30 And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.

1:31 Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.

1:32 He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity.

1:33 And his kingdom shall have no end.

” 1:34 Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”

1:35 And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.

1:36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren.

1:37 For no word will be impossible with God.”

1:38 Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.