“After Zacharias confirmed the name of his son to be John, immediately his mouth was opened after nine months and his tongue was loosened and he began praising God.”
“Fear came upon all who witnessed what had happened to Elizabeth and Zacharias, and fear came upon them and word traveled throughout the hill country of Judea, and all those who heard them kept them in their hearts saying, what kind of child will this be, for surely the hand of the Lord is with him.”
“After eight days it was time to circumcise the child and they customarily would have called the child by his father Zacharias, but Elizabeth when asked to name the child, she said No, the child will not be called Zacharias but John, the name revealed by the angel.”
Zacharias was unable to speak for the entire time Elizabeth was with child because he did not believe what was told to him that Mary would have a son, so when Mary explicitly said the child would be named John, they said to her, ‘But there is no one among your relatives who is called John’. So they made signs to Zacharias wanting confirmation, but he asked for a writing tablet and wrote saying ‘His name is John’, and they were astonished.”
“Now Elizabeth’s full time came for her to deliver her child and she brought forth a son. When the neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had blessed Elizabeth and shown great mercy to her, they rejoiced with her.”
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice! The Lord has done great things for us and we are glad.”
After Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting and the baby leaped in her womb she was filled with the Holy Spirit and she said to Mary, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of those things which were told to her from the Lord.”
Mary was filled with gratitude after being termed barren for many years, and she rejoiced saying, “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior, for he has regarded the lowly state of his maid-servant, for behold, henceforth, all generations will call me blessed; for he who is might has done great things for me and Holy is his name.” To God be the glory!
“Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation, give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer.”
“Hark a thrilling voice is sounding, Christ is nigh it seems to say, cast away the works of darkness, O ye children of the day. Wakened by the solemn warning, from earth’s bondage let us rise, Christ our sun all sloth dispelling, shines upon the mountain skies. Lo! the Lamb so long expected, comes with pardon down from heaven, let us haste with tears of sorrow, one and all to be forgiven. So when next he comes with glory and the world is wrapped in fear, may e with his mercy shield us and with words of love draw near.”
The Angel of the Lord after revealing to Mary that she would have a child in her old age, he reminded Mary, that no word from God will ever fail. And Mary’s response to him was this, “I am the Lord’s servant, may your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. Luke 2
“Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed, 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 for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
When the angel told Zechariah that his wife would bear him a son, he was full of questions and he asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man, and my wife Elizabeth is well along in years.”
“The angel said to Zechariah, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time. Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple, but when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.”
Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart, they do no wrong but follow his ways. Psalm 119
“Lord, you have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.” Thank you, Lord!
The Angel Gabriel appeared to the virgin Mary who was betrothed to a man named Joseph and said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, blessed are you among women!” Mary was troubled by his greeting, but the angel said to her,” Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God; and behold, you will conceive and bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name, Jesus.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, we could only imagine the thoughts going through Mary’s mind. She voiced her concern to the Angel saying, “How can this be, how can I conceive since I do not know a man? The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you, and the Holy one who is to be born will be called the Son of God. For with God nothing will be impossible.” My brothers and sisters in Christ, when we are faced with the impossible, call upon God and trust Him, who is able to do the impossible. Great and marvelous things He has done!