All around him was a glowing halo,
like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day.
This is what the glory of the LORD looked like to me.
When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground,
and I heard someone’s voice speaking to me.
“Stand up, son of man,” said the voice.
“I want to speak with you.”
“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.
Remember the things I have done in the past.
For I alone am God!
I am God, and there is none like me.
Only I can tell you the future
before it even happens.
Everything I plan will come to pass…
I will be your God throughout your lifetime—
until your hair is white with age.
I made you, and I will care for you.
I will carry you along and save you.
Teach those who are rich in this world
not to be proud and not to trust in their money,
which is so unreliable…
Tell them to use their money to do good…
…rich in good works and generous…
…storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future
so that they may experience true life.
…we brought nothing with us
when we came into the world,
and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it.
So if we have enough food and clothing,
let us be content.
…Look!
I am going to put breath into you
and make you live again!
I will put flesh and muscles on you
and cover you with skin.
I will put breath into you,
and you will come to life.
Then you will know that I am the LORD.
You will be my people,
and I will be your God.
…I will give you good crops of grain…
…I will give you great harvests…
But remember,
says the Sovereign LORD,
I am not doing this because you deserve it…
I pray that God,
the source of hope,
will fill you completely with joy and peace
because you trust in him.
Then you will overflow with confident hope
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
…I will show my greatness and holiness,
and I will make myself known
to all the nations of the world.
Then they will know that I am the LORD.
