First Lesson
Jeremiah 33: 14-16
14The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I
made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15In
those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for
David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16In
those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is
the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
1To you,
O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2O my
God, in you I trust; do not let me be put to shame; do not let my enemies exult
over me.
3Do not
let those who wait for you be put to shame; let them be ashamed who are
wantonly treacherous.
4Make me
to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5Lead me
in your truth, and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I
wait all day long.
6Be
mindful of your mercy, O Lord,
and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.
7Do not
remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast
love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!
8Good
and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9He
leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.
10All the
paths of the Lord are
steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his
decrees.
Gospel
Luke 1: 5-25
5In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named
Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah.
His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6Both of
them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the
commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7But
they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in
years. 8Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section
was on duty, 9he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood,
to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10Now at
the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying
outside. 11Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the
right side of the altar of incense. 12When
Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him.13But the
angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been
heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14You
will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15for he
will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong
drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16He will
turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17With
the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of
parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous,
to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 18Zechariah
said to the angel, “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and
my wife is getting on in years.” 19The
angel replied, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been
sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20But
now, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their
time, you will become mute, unable to speak, until the day these things occur.” 21Meanwhile
the people were waiting for Zechariah, and wondered at his delay in the
sanctuary. 22When he did come out, he could not speak to them, and they
realized that he had seen a vision in the sanctuary. He kept motioning to them
and remained unable to speak. 23When
his time of service was ended, he went to his home. 24After
those days his wife Elizabeth conceived, and for five months she remained in
seclusion. She said, 25“This is what the Lord
has done for me when he looked favorably on me and took away the disgrace I
have endured among my people.”