THE ANNUNCIATION

 In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, “Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favor! The Lord is with you.” (Judges 6:12) (Ruth 2:4) (Judith 13:18) She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, “Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favor. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. (Genesis 17:17) (Judges 13:3) He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the house of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.” (2 Samuel 7:12-16) (Daniel 2:44; 7:13-14) (Micah 4:7) Mary said to the angel, “But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. Therefore, the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible for Yahweh.” (Genesis 18:14) (Jeremiah 32:27) Mary said, “You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said.” The angel then left her.

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