Chapter 1 : The birth of Lord Jesus.

A long long time ago, in the city of Nazareth, there was a very young woman, her name was Mary, she was a virgin but above all, a very kind and simple woman. The young woman was promised to a man, Joseph, who was a descendant of David.

*According to the Holy Scriptures, God promised a Savior to His people and The Savior would come from the line of David.*

One day, the Living God sent an angel named Gabriel to announce to Mary very important news.

“Greetings” the angel said to her “you who are highly favored ! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be but continued to listen to the angel as he spoke ;

“Do not be afraid, Mary,” said he “You have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.”

Mary continued to listen to him.

“The Lord will give Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever ; His kingdom will never end.”

And when the angel has finished to speak, Mary asked the angel.

“How will this be” she asked “since I am a virgin ?”

The angel smiled at her and answered ; “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elisabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

Mary bowed her head

“I am the Lord’s servant,” she answered “may your word to me be fulfilled.”

Then the angel left her.

The following days, Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, she was going to see her cousin, Elisabeth.

When she entered Zechariah’s (the husband of Elisabeth) home, she greeted Elisabeth very happily. When Elisabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit* and with a loud voice, she exclaimed happily as well.

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear ! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me ? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb, leaped in joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promise to her !”

And Mary smiled as she said ;

“My soul glorifies the Lord

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for He has been mindful

of the humble state of His servant.

From now on all generation will call me blessed,

for the Mighty One has done great things for me

Holy is His name.

His mercy extends to those who fear Him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with His arm ;

He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones

but has lifted up the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful

to Abraham and his descendants forever,

just as He promised our ancestors.”

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