Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist ~ 24 June 2015

John, the Lord’s forerunner is born

six months prior to the birth 

of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

God has brought John, 

the greatest of prophets, 

to prepare the way of the Lord.

His call to repentance and baptism 

formed a faithful remnant 

that awaited the coming of the Messiah.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, 

Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 

make his paths straight.

~ Mark 1:3 ~

I tell you, 

among those born of women 

no one is greater than John; 

yet the least in the kingdom of God 

is greater than he.

~ Luke 7:28 ~

The Church normally celebrate feast day of saints to commemorate their death, their birth into Heaven but to this rule there are two notable exceptions, the birthdays of Blessed Virgin Mary and of St. John the Baptist. In Luke 1:41-42, when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. John was completely healed of sin in Elizabeth womb, therefore born without Original Sin, and he was then free of any serious sin throughout his life.

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that your family may walk in the way of salvation and, attentive to what Saint John the Precursor urged, may come safely to the One he foretold, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Gospel

Luke 1:57-66, 80

When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child
she gave birth to a son.
Her neighbors and relatives heard
that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her,
and they rejoiced with her.
When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child,
they were going to call him Zechariah after his father,
but his mother said in reply,
“No. He will be called John.”
But they answered her,
“There is no one among your relatives who has this name.”
So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called.
He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,”
and all were amazed.
Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed,
and he spoke blessing God.
Then fear came upon all their neighbours,
and all these matters were discussed
throughout the hill country of Judea.
All who heard these things took them to heart, saying,
“What, then, will this child be?”
For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.
The child grew and became strong in spirit,
and he was in the desert until the day
of his manifestation to Israel.

Past Posting
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Solemnity) - 2013

The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Solemnity)

Luke 1:76-77

76 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;

For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,

77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people

By the remission of their sins,

In this solemnity we celebrate the miraculous birth of John the Baptist, a prophet who foretold and prepared a the way for the coming of the Messiah in the person of Jesus, whom he later baptised. John was cleansed of original sin in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth. God has brought John, the greatest of prophets, to prepare the way of Jesus the Messiah. His call to repentance and baptism formed a faithful remnant that awaited the coming of the Messiah. His Baptism, he said, was for repentance. But One would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John is not worthy even to carry his sandals. His attitude toward Jesus was: “He must increase; I must decrease” John was humbled to find among the crowd of sinners who came to be baptized the one whom he already knew to be the Messiah. In Luke 7:28, "I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”, where Jesus declares John the greatest of all those who had preceded him.

The Nativity of St John the Baptist on 24 June comes three months after the celebration on 25 March of the Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel told Our Lady that her cousin Elizabeth was in her sixth month of pregnancy.

Luke 1:5-25

The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold

5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.

11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. 16 He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

18 Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”

19 The angel said to him, “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. 20 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.”

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple. 22 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.

23 When his time of service was completed, he returned home. 24 After this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. 25 “The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favour and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

Grant, we pray, almighty God, that your family may walk in the way of salvation and, attentive to what Saint John the Precursor urged, may come safely to the One he foretold, our Lord Jesus Christ, Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.

Monday, June 24, 2013
The Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Solemnity)

Reading 1

Isaiah 49: 1 - 6
1	Listen to me, O coastlands, and hearken, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.
2	He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away.
3	And he said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
4	But I said, "I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my right is with the LORD, and my recompense with my God."
5	And now the LORD says, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD, and my God has become my strength --
6	he says: "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the preserved of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."

Psalm

Psalms 139: 1 - 3, 13 - 15
1	O LORD, thou hast searched me and known me!
2	Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar.
3	Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
13	For thou didst form my inward parts, thou didst knit me together in my mother's womb.
14	I praise thee, for thou art fearful and wonderful. Wonderful are thy works! Thou knowest me right well;
15	my frame was not hidden from thee, when I was being made in secret, intricately wrought in the depths of the earth.

Reading 2

Acts 13: 22 - 26
22	And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king; of whom he testified and said, `I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.'
23	Of this man's posterity God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised.
24	Before his coming John had preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.
25	And as John was finishing his course, he said, `What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'
26	"Brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation.

Gospel

Luke 1: 57 - 66, 80
57	Now the time came for Elizabeth to be delivered, and she gave birth to a son.
58	And her neighbors and kinsfolk heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.
59	And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child; and they would have named him Zechari'ah after his father,
60	but his mother said, "Not so; he shall be called John."
61	And they said to her, "None of your kindred is called by this name."
62	And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he would have him called.
63	And he asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." And they all marveled.
64	And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
65	And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea;
66	and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child be?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.
80	And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness till the day of his manifestation to Israel.

The Nativity of the Lord - Christmas (Solemnity), Tuesday, December 25, 2012

"A light shall shine upon us this day, for the Lord is born to us."

Father God, When your precious Son became a tiny baby in a stable in Bethlehem in poverty and simplicity, you changed our world. As we imagine those surroundings, we join with the shepherds and the wise men in wonder and praise. We thank you for our material lives, praise you for our spiritual lives, and trust in you for our eternal life.

Amen.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Midnight

1st Reading
Isaiah 9: 1 - 6

1	But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2	The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
3	Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil.
4	For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid'ian.
5	For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6	For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Psalm
Psalms 96: 1 - 3, 11 - 13

1	O sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2	Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.
3	Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!
11	Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
12	let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy
13	before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.

2nd Reading
Titus 2: 11 - 14

11	For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men,
12	training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world,
13	awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14	who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

Gospel
Luke 2: 1 - 14

1	In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled.
2	This was the first enrollment, when Quirin'i-us was governor of Syria.
3	And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city.
4	And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,
5	to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
6	And while they were there, the time came for her to be delivered.
7	And she gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8	And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9	And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.
10	And the angel said to them, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people;
11	for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12	And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
13	And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14	"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!"

Dawn (early morning)

1st Reading
Isaiah 62: 11 - 12

11	Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth: Say to the daughter of Zion, "Behold, your salvation comes; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him."
12	And they shall be called The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD; and you shall be called Sought out, a city not forsaken.

Psalm
Psalms 97: 1, 6, 11 - 12

1	The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
6	The heavens proclaim his righteousness; and all the peoples behold his glory.
11	Light dawns for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.
12	Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!

2nd Reading
Titus 3: 4 - 7

4	but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5	he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit,
6	which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7	so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope of eternal life.

Gospel
Luke 2: 15 - 20

15	When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us."
16	And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17	And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child;
18	and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.
19	But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.
20	And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

During the Day

1st Reading
Isaiah 52: 7 - 10

7	How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace, who brings good tidings of good, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
8	Hark, your watchmen lift up their voice, together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the LORD to Zion.
9	Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem; for the LORD has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem.
10	The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.

Psalm
Psalms 98: 1 - 6

1	O sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2	The LORD has made known his victory, he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3	He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4	Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
5	Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody!
6	With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the LORD!

2nd Reading
Hebrews 1: 1 - 6

1	In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets;
2	but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
3	He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
4	having become as much superior to angels as the name he has obtained is more excellent than theirs.
5	For to what angel did God ever say, "Thou art my Son, today I have begotten thee"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son"?
6	And again, when he brings the first-born into the world, he says, "Let all God's angels worship him."

Gospel
John 1: 1 - 18

1	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2	He was in the beginning with God;
3	all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
4	In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5	The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6	There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7	He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
8	He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
9	The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
10	He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
11	He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
12	But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
13	who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14	And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.
15	(John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, `He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'")
16	And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace.
17	For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18	No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

or

John 1: 1 - 5, 9 - 14  

1	In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2	He was in the beginning with God;
3	all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.
4	In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5	The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
9	The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world.
10	He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not.
11	He came to his own home, and his own people received him not.
12	But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God;
13	who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14	And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.

Nativity of Jesus (Birth of Jesus)

"CHRIST the Reason for the Season" 

The word Nativity comes from "Nativus" in Latin, which means "born".

An angel appears to Mary, telling her she's been chosen by God to bear the Son of God, who will be Savior of the people (Annunciation of the Lord, celebrated on 25 March, exactly 9 months before Christmas) and also about her cousin Elizabeth, who's ostensibly too old to have children, is already six months pregnant. This is a great proof God's power to do anything as He wills. Mary agrees to God's , and travels to visit Elizabeth. Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, a priest who was told in the temple that  his aged wife would conceive and bear a son, to be named John. Zechariah lost his ability to speak as he did not believe what he was foretold. When Mary arrives, Elizabeth seems to be aware of Mary's impending pregnancy, saying her own child leapt in her womb in joy. Mary tells Elizabeth she's scared, since the law requires she remain pure and thinks nobody will believe she's kept her vows. Elizabeth comforts her by telling her to believe, trust and have faith in God. Mary stayed until Elizabeth's child is born, while Zechariah's voice was restored  and he insisted the child named as John.

Mary shortly then return home and is noticeably pregnant causing scandal by the town people, and Joseph is broken hearted. Mary's parents can't believe Mary explainantions as they fear she might have been raped by Herod's soldiers and told her the punishment could be death for violating her vows to Joseph. Joseph who is upset and bitter has decided not to put charges on the violation of the vows. The the angel once again appeared but this time to Joseph in a dream who tells him “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21). Joseph then woke up and  followed what the angel of the Lord had commanded by taking Mary home as his wife but did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son and named Jesus, the Immanuel (God with us).

King Herod worried about the prophecy of a new King of Jews who will be a Messiah, and  decides to take advantage of Caesar's intentions for a census to make everyone return to their ancestral home. As the prophecy had said the Messiah is to come from a descendant of David, Herod's plans to force them into Bethlehem, the City of David, capture and kill this child. Joseph is the force to go to Bethlehem and Mary agrees to follow him on an arduous journey. While on the journey to Bethlehem,  Mary realizes Joseph as a good, self-sacrificing man., therefore affection and trust begins grows between them.
 

Three Magi from Persia, who have been interpreting the prophecy, decide to travel to Judea because the alignment of a star with two planets indicates to them that the real King of Jews will be born in Bethlehem, Judea. They stopped in Jerusalem, and told the rulers in Jerusalem that the Messiah king is not  grown man, but a a newly born baby. Herod pretends with intentions to pay homage to the new king and tells them to return with directions upon them finding the newly born Messiah. Upon the Magi's departure, Herod plans to put an end to the people's hope in the prophecy by sending out his soldiers to kill all the new born babies in Bethlehem.

Upon their arrival in Bethlehem, Mary starts having contractions and Joseph goes looking for a place for her delivery, but all that's he could find was a stable. As Mary gives birth, the three celestial bodies line up, and a ray of light falls directly on the stable. Some shepherds show up to see the child as a message the received from an angel, including the one showed kindness to Joseph. Mary announces her baby is born for all mankind. The shepherds visit is the followed by the three gagi arrival, they presented their gifts of gold for the king of kings, frankincense for the priest of priests, and myrrh for the one who must sacrifice. Upon the shephards and three magi depature, Mary and Joseph slept while Herod's soldiers begin their terrible infanticide (killing all new borm babies). Herod's soldiers begin their terrible infanticide. The three magi did not go to Herod for they had been warned through a dream of Herod's plot to destroy the child. The angel's again came to Joseph in his dream to warn him about Herod's soldiers killing and ask the to flee out Bethlehem. Joseph quickly wakes up and again follows the command of the angel. Joseph, Mary, and the baby Jesus flee heading for Egypt escaping Herod's soldiers. Jesus, Mary and Joseph stayed in Egypt until Herod had died, and after which they returned to Nazareth.

 

 

It's a time for Christians to focus our hearts and love in anticipation of  the birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace and Savior of World.

The Shepherds

Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds by night and announced the good news that a Savior, the Messiah had been born in the town of David, Bethelehem, Ephrath, Judea. Suddenly a great host of heavenly beings appeared with the angels, singing praises to God. Then, the shepherds decided to make their way to Bethlehem, where they found and saw the newly born Jesus, Mary and Joseph in a stable. Later the sheperds went on their way still praising and glorifying God and to spread the word about this amazing child and everything the angel had about the child. Mary did not say a word but she treasured their words and pondering them in her heart. It was beyond her ability to grasp, that sleeping in her arms, is the tender child who is the Savior of the world, the Messiah and the Lord, King of all Kings.

The Magi

At this time wise men (Magi) from the east saw a star, they search, knowing the star signified the birth of the king of the Jews. These wise men came to the Jewish rulers in Jerusalem, to find out where new King of the Jews is born. The rulers explained as in Micah 5:2, "In Bethlehem in Judea,". Herod secretly met the Magi and told them to inform him upon finding the child, as he wanted to go and worship the child but secretly Herod was plotting to kill the child. The wise men continued to follow the star and found the new born king, Jesus with his mother in Bethlehem. They bowed and worshipped him, offering treasures of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The wise men  left and they did not go to Herod for they had been warned through a dream of Herod's plot to destroy the child.

 

 

The birth of Jesus as written in the Holy Scriptures and Gospels.

 

Micah 5:2

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”

 





Isaiah 7:14

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.


Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

 

Matthew 1:18-2:12

 

Joseph Accepts Jesus as His Son

 

¹⁸ This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ²³ “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

The Magi Visit the Messiah

2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Note :
The Magi also referred to as the Wise Men, Kings, or Kings from the East.


Luke 1:26-33

 
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
²⁶ In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, ²⁷ to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. ³² 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, ³³ and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”


Luke 1:39-45
 

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Luke 2:1-21
 

The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Away in a Manger

 

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where He lay,
The little Lord Jesus, asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the Baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes;
I love Thee, Lord Jesus, look down from the sky
And stay by my cradle till morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there.