Bible Readings - Dec. 9, 2024

Reading 1

Isaiah 32:1-8

See, a king will reign justly

and princes will rule rightly.

Each of them will be like a shelter from the wind,

a refuge from the rain.

They will be like streams of water in a dry country,

like the shade of a great rock in a parched land.

The eyes of those who see will not be closed;

the ears of those who hear will be attentive.

The hasty of heart shall take thought to know,

and tongues of stutterers shall speak readily and clearly.

No more will the fool be called noble,

nor the deceiver be considered honorable.

For the fool speaks folly,

his heart plans evil:

Godless actions,

perverse speech against the LORD,

Letting the hungry go empty

and the thirsty without drink.

The deceits of the deceiver are evil,

he plans devious schemes:

To ruin the poor with lies,

and the needy when they plead their case.

But the noble plan noble deeds,

Psalm 98:1-4

Sing to the LORD a new song,

for he has done wondrous deeds;

His right hand has won victory for him,

his holy arm.

The LORD has made his salvation known:

in the sight of the nations he has revealed his justice.

He has remembered his kindness and his faithfulness

toward the house of Israel.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.

Reading 2

Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

Brothers and sisters:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has blessed us in Christ

with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,

as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world,

to be holy and without blemish before him.

In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ,

in accord with the favor of his will,

for the praise of the glory of his grace

that he granted us in the beloved.

In him we were also chosen,

destined in accord with the purpose of the One

who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will,

so that we might exist for the praise of his glory,

we who first hoped in Christ.

see Luke 1:46-47

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my savior.

Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God

to a town of Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph,

of the house of David,

and the virgin's name was Mary.

And coming to her, he said,

"Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you."

But she was greatly troubled at what was said

and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

Then the angel said to her,

"Do not be afraid, Mary,

for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son,

and you shall name him Jesus.

He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,

and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father,

and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever,

and of his Kingdom there will be no end."

But Mary said to the angel,

"How can this be,

since I have no relations with a man?"

And the angel said to her in reply,

"The Holy Spirit will come upon you,

and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.

Therefore the child to be born

will be called holy, the Son of God.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative,

has also conceived a son in her old age,

and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren;

for nothing will be impossible for God."

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.

May it be done to me according to your word."

Then the angel departed from her.