The Angel Visits Mary and Joseph | Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 61:1-2

Many years ago a prophet predicted the birth of a special baby. He prophesied: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him a name that means ‘God with us.’”

Hundreds of years later, God sent an angel to a virgin named Mary. She was pledged to be married to a man named Joseph. The angel said to Mary, “Greetings, you are highly favored by God! The Lord is with you.” Mary was troubled by the angel’s words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will have a child and give birth to a son. You are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. His kingdom will never end.”

“How can this be, since I am a virgin?” Mary asked the angel. The angel explained, “The Holy Spirit of God will cause it to happen. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. For nothing is impossible with God.” Mary answered: “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Later the angel appeared to Joseph, Mary’s husband to be. Joseph was considering quietly divorcing Mary when he found that she was already with child because he did not want to shame her publicly. In a dream the angel told Joseph to take Mary as his wife. The angel told Joseph the child in her is from the Holy Spirit. The angel said, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not sleep with her until after she gave birth to a son.

The prophet said this Son of God came to bring good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and to comfort all who mourn.