May 31, 2018

Zephaniah 3: 14- 18

3:14 Give praise, daughter of Zion. Shout joyfully, Israel. Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem.
3:15 The Lord has taken away your judgment; he has turned aside your foes. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall no longer fear evil.
3:16 In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Do not be afraid,” and to Zion, “Do not let your hands be weakened.”
3:17 The Lord your God is the strength in your midst; he will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. In his love, he will be silent. He will exult over you with praise.
3:18 The triflers who withdrew from the law, I will gather together, because they were from you, so that you may no longer suffer disgrace over them.

Luke 1: 39- 56

1:39 And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah.
1:40 And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth.
1:41 And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
1:42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.
1:43 And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me?
1:44 For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.
1:45 And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.”
1:46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord.
1:47 And my spirit leaps for joy in God my Saviour.
1:48 For he has looked with favor on the humility of his handmaid. For behold, from this time, all generations shall call me blessed.
1:49 For he who is great has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
1:50 And his mercy is from generation to generations for those who fear him.
1:51 He has accomplished powerful deeds with his arm. He has scattered the arrogant in the intentions of their heart.
1:52 He has deposed the powerful from their seat, and he has exalted the humble.
1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.
1:54 He has taken up his servant Israel, mindful of his mercy,
1:55 just as he spoke to our fathers: to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
1:56 Then Mary stayed with her for about three months. And she returned to her own house.