God

For the Mighty One has done great things for me. Holy is His name.

His mercy extends to those who fear Him, from generation to generation.

He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful,

as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people.

as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past,

to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,

deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear,

And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him,

to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,

Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),

and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:

For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”