December 19, 2014

Reading

Judges   13: 2-7,24-25

13:2 Now there was a certain man from Zorah, and of the stock of Dan, whose name was Manoah, having a barren wife.

13:3 And an Angel of the Lord appeared to her, and he said: “You are barren and without children. But you shall conceive and bear a son.

13:4 Therefore, take care that you do not drink wine or strong drink. Neither shall you eat anything unclean.

13:5 For you shall conceive and bear a son, whose head no razor shall touch. For he shall be a Nazirite of God, from his infancy and from his mother’s womb. And he shall begin to free Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”

13:6 And when she had gone to her husband, she said to him: “A man of God came to me, having the countenance of an Angel, exceedingly terrible. And when I had inquired of him, who he was, and where he was from, and what name he was called, he was not willing to tell me.

13:7 But he responded: ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Take care that you do not drink wine or strong drink. And you shall not consume anything unclean. For the boy shall be a Nazirite of God from his infancy, from his mother’s womb, even until the day of his death.’ ”

13:24 And so she bore a son, and she called his name Samson. And the boy grew up, and the Lord blessed him.

13:25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to be with him in the camp of Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Gospel

Luke   1: 5-25

1:5 There was, in the days of Herod, king of Judea, a certain priest named Zechariah, of the section of Abijah, and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.

1:6 Now they were both just before God, progressing in all of the commandments and the justifications of the Lord without blame.

1:7 And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both had become advanced in years.

1:8 Then it happened that, when he was exercising the priesthood before God, in the order of his section,

1:9 according to the custom of the priesthood, the lot fell so that he would offer incense, entering into the temple of the Lord.

1:10 And the entire multitude of the people was praying outside, at the hour of incense.

1:11 Then there appeared to him an Angel of the Lord, standing at the right of the altar of incense.

1:12 And upon seeing him, Zechariah was disturbed, and fear fell over him.

1:13 But the Angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth shall bear a son to you. And you shall call his name John.

1:14 And there will be joy and exultation for you, and many will rejoice in his nativity.

1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.

1:16 And he will convert many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.

1:17 And he will go before him with the spirit and power of Elijah, so that he may turn the hearts of the fathers to the sons, and the incredulous to the prudence of the just, so as to prepare for the Lord a completed people.”

1:18 And Zechariah said to the Angel: “How may I know this? For I am elderly, and my wife is advanced in years.”

1:19 And in response, the Angel said to him: “I am Gabriel, who stands before God, and I have been sent to speak to you, and to proclaim these things to you.

1:20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak, until the day on which these things shall be, because you have not believed my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

1:21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah. And they wondered why he was being delayed in the temple.

1:22 Then, when he came out, he was unable to speak to them. And they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he was making signs to them, but he remained mute.

1:23 And it happened that, after the days of his office were completed, he went away to his house.

1:24 Then, after those days, his wife Elizabeth conceived, and she hid herself for five months, saying:

1:25 “For the Lord did this for me, at the time when he decided to take away my reproach among men.”