December 20

Official Translation

Reading 1 – Isaiah 7.10-14

The Lord spoke again to Ahaz, saying,
“Ask a sign of the Lord your God;
whether from the deep or the height above.”
But Ahaz said,
“I will not ask; I will not tempt the Lord.”
Isaiah said,
“Listen now, house of David.
Is it not enough for you to try the patience of humans,
that you will try the patience of my God also?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:
Behold, the virgin will conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.

Responsorial - Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 Resp. (see 7c and 10b)

R. The Lord will enter; he is the king of glory.

The earth is the Lord’s, with its fullness;
the world, and those who dwell therein.
For he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the waters.

R. The Lord will enter; he is the king of glory.

Who can ascend the Lord’s mountain?
Who can stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart;
who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood,

He shall receive a blessing from the Lord,
righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the nature of those who seek Him,
who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

R. The Lord will enter; he is the king of glory.

Gospel – Luke 1:26-38

The angel Gabriel was sent from God
to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
to a virgin pledged to be married
to a man whose name was Joseph,
of the house of David.
The virgin’s name was Mary.
Having come, the angel said to her,
“Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.”
But she was greatly troubled at the saying,
and considered what kind of greeting this might be.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God.
Behold, you will conceive in your womb,
and give birth to a son,
and will name him ‘Jesus.’
He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever.
There will be no end to his Kingdom.”
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be,
since I do not have relations with a man?”
The angel answered her,
“The Holy Spirit will come on you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.
Therefore also the one who is born from you
will be called holy, the Son of God.
Behold, Elizabeth, your relative,
also has conceived a son in her old age;
and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
For God is not incapable of anything.”
Mary said, “Behold the handmaid of the Lord;
be it to me according to your word.”