Luke 1:39-80

A little while later, Mary got herself ready and hurried up into the hills of Judea, to the town where Zechariah's house was. She called out to Elizabeth as she went in. As soon as Elizabeth heard Mary's voice, the baby jumped for joy inside her. Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and cried out in a loud voice: “How blessed you are among women, and how blessed will be the child born to you! Why am I so honored that the mother of my Lord should visit me? As soon as I heard you call out in greeting, my baby jumped for joy inside me. How fortunate you are, because you are convinced that the Lord will do what he has promised you!” Mary replied, “How I praise the Lord! I am so happy with God my Savior, because he decided that I, his servant, was worthy of his consideration, despite my humble background. From now on every generation will say I was blessed. God Almighty has done great things for me; his name is holy. His mercy lasts for generation after generation to those who respect him. With his power he has broken to pieces those who arrogantly think they're so clever. He tears the powerful down from their thrones, and elevates those who are humble. He fills the hungry with good things to eat, and he sends the rich away empty-handed. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering him in mercy, just as he promised our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants for ever.” Mary stayed with her for three months and then returned home. The time came for Elizabeth to have her baby and she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard how the Lord had showed her great kindness, and they celebrated together with her. Eight days later they came to circumcise the boy. They planned to call him Zechariah after his father. “No,” Elizabeth said. “He shall be called John.” “But there's nobody among your relatives who has this name,” they told her. Through gestures they asked Zechariah, the boy's father, what he wanted to call his son. Zechariah motioned for something to write on. To everyone's surprise he wrote, “His name is John.” Immediately he could speak again, and he started praising God. All those living nearby were in awe at what had happened, and the news spread throughout the hill country of Judea. Everyone who heard the news wondered what it meant. “What will the little boy grow up to be?” they asked, for it was clear he was very special to God. Zechariah, his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, spoke this prophecy: “The Lord, the God of Israel, he is wonderful, for he has come to his people and set them free. He has given us a great Savior from the line of his servant David, as he promised through his holy prophets long ago. He promised to save us from our enemies, from those who hate us. He was merciful to our fathers, remembering his holy agreement— the promise that he made to our father Abraham. He gives us freedom from fear and rescues us from our enemies, so we can serve him by doing what is good and right for our whole lives. Even though you are only a small child, you will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go ahead of the Lord to prepare his way, providing knowledge of salvation to his people through the forgiveness of their sins. Through God's caring kindness to us, heaven's dawn will break upon us to shine on those who live in darkness and under the shadow of death, and to guide us along the path of peace.” The boy John grew and became spiritually strong. He lived in the desert until the time came for his public ministry to Israel.