The first reading is from 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
7 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the LORD had given
him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet
Nathan, ‘See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God
stays in a tent.’ 3 Nathan said to the king, ‘Go, do all that you have in
mind; for the LORD is with you.’
4 But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell
my servant David: Thus says the LORD: Are you the one to build me a
house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up
the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about
in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about among all the
people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of
Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, ‘Why
have you not built me a house of cedar?’ 8 Now therefore thus you shall
say to my servant David: Thus says the LORD of hosts: I took you from
the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people
Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off
all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name,
like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place
for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their
own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no
more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my
people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover,
the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house.
16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before
me; your throne shall be established for ever.
Hear the word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
The second reading is from Luke 1:26-38
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in
Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name
was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And
he came to her and said, ‘Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with
you.’ 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what
sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid,
Mary, for you have found favour with God. 31 And now, you will conceive
in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be
great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will
give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the
house of Jacob for ever, and of his kingdom there will be no
end.’ 34 Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I am a
virgin?’ 35 The angel said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and
the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to
be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your
relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the
sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be
impossible with God.’ 38 Then Mary said, ‘Here am I, the servant of the
Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ Then the angel departed
from her.
For the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ
