But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 

For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

⁴⁷  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

⁴⁸  for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

⁴⁹  for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

⁵⁰  And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

⁵¹  He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

⁵²  he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

⁵³  he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

⁵⁴  He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

⁵⁵  as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

²³  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”(which means, God with us).

²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.