In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He existed in the beginning with God.
God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.

“And you,
my little son,
will be called
the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven
is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,”
the angel told her,
“for you have found favor with God!
You will conceive
and give birth to a son,
and you will name him Jesus.”
“So the baby to be born will be holy,
and he will be called the Son of God.”
Mary responded,
“I am the Lord’s servant.
May everything you have said about me
come true.”

Zachariah and Elizabeth
were righteous in God’s eyes,
careful to obey all of the LORD’s commandments
and regulations.
One day Zachariah was serving God in the Temple…
…the angel said,
“Don’t be afraid, Zachariah!
God has heard your prayer.
Your wife,
Elizabeth,
will give you a son,
and you are to name him John.
…He will be filled with the Holy Spirit,
even before his birth.
He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah.
He will prepare the people
for the coming of the Lord…”
