Luke 1:26-38

What is Christmas?

It is the tenderness of the past, 

courage for the present,

and hope for the future.

~ Agnes M. Pahro

Christmas is a season not only

of rejoicing but of reflection.

~ Winston Churchill

Fourth Sunday of Advent

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
Romans 16:25–27
Luke 1:26–38

Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9:2-7

Psalm 96

Titus 2:11-14

Luke 2:1-14, (15-20)

2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16
Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” 3 Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.” 
4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6 I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. 7 Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” 8 Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; 9 and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. 10 And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, 11 from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26
1 I will sing of the Lord’s loyal love forever. 
I will proclaim your faithfulness 
with my own mouth 
from one generation to the next. 
2 That’s why I say, 
“Your loyal love is rightly built—forever! 
You establish your faithfulness 
in heaven.” 
3 You said, “I made a covenant 
with my chosen one; 
I promised my servant David: 
4 ‘I will establish your offspring forever; 
I will build up your throne from one 
generation to the next.’ 
19 Once you spoke in a vision 
to your faithful servants: 
I placed a crown on a strong man. 
I raised up someone specially chosen 
from the people. 
20 I discovered my servant David. 
I anointed him with my holy oil. 
21 My hand will sustain him— 
yes, my arm will strengthen him! 
22 No enemy will oppress him; 
no wicked person will make him suffer. 
23 I will crush all his foes in front of him. 
I will strike down 
all those who hate him. 
24 My faithfulness and my loyal love 
will be with him. 
He will be strengthened by my name. 
25 I will set his hand on the sea. 
I will set his strong hand on the rivers. 
26 He will cry out to me: 
“You are my father, 
my God, the rock of my salvation.”

Romans 16:25–27
25 May the glory be to God who can strengthen you with my good news and the message that I preach about Jesus Christ. He can strengthen you with the announcement of the secret that was kept quiet for a long time. 26 Now that secret is revealed through what the prophets wrote. It is made known to the Gentiles in order to lead to their faithful obedience based on the command of the eternal God. 27 May the glory be to God, who alone is wise! May the glory be to him through Jesus Christ forever! Amen.

Luke 1:26–38
26 When Elizabeth was six months pregnant, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a city in Galilee, 27 to a virgin who was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 When the angel came to her, he said, “Rejoice, favored one! The Lord is with you!” 29 She was confused by these words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary. God is honoring you. 31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” 
34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How will this happen since I haven’t had sexual relations with a man?” 
35 The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the one who is to be born will be holy. He will be called God’s Son. 36 Look, even in her old age, your relative Elizabeth has conceived a son. This woman who was labeled ‘unable to conceive’ is now six months pregnant. 37 Nothing is impossible for God.” 
38 Then Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be with me just as you have said.” Then the angel left her.