November 28, 2023

The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you— news that will make everyone happy.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid.

That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep.

While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. 7 She gave birth to her first son. She wrapped him up well and laid him in a box where cattle are fed. She put him there because the guest room was full.

Joseph registered with Mary because she was engaged to marry him. (She was now pregnant.)

Everyone traveled to their own hometowns to have their name put on the list. So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee, and went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea. It was known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David.

Augustus Caesar sent out an order to all people in the countries that were under Roman rule. The order said that everyone’s name must be put on a list. This was the first counting of all the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let this thing you have said happen to me!” Then the angel went away.

The angel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come to you, and the power of the Most High God will cover you. The baby will be holy and will be called the Son of God.

He will be great. People will call him the Son of the Most High God, and the Lord God will make him king like his ancestor David. He will rule over the people of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.