Luke

Birth of Jesus

At that time, the emperor issued a decree to conduct a census of the entire empire. 

his first census was conducted when Quirinus was governor of Syria.

Everyone was required to register in their own town. So, everyone set out for their own city. 

Joseph also left from Nazareth in Galilee. As he was a descendant of David, being part of his family, he traveled to Judea, to David’s hometown of Bethlehem,

to register with Mary, his wife, who was pregnant. 

They were in Bethlehem when the time came for her to have her firstborn son; 

and she gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in torn rags and laid him in a feeding trough because there was no room for them in the inn.

There were shepherds camping in the countryside, taking turns watching over their flocks at night.

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to them with the glory of the Lord shining around them. 

As they were terrified,

the angel said to them: 

“Don’t be afraid; I am here to bring you good news, great joy for all the people. 

Today, a Savior has been born to you in David’s town; he is the Messiah and the Lord. 

Let this be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly, the angel was surrounded by many more heavenly spirits praising God and saying: 

“Glory to God in the highest and Peace on earth to those whom God loves.”

When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other:

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has made known to us.” 

So they hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough. 

On seeing him, they told what they had been told about the child; 

and everyone was amazed when they heard the shepherds. 

As for Mary, she treasured all these words and kept them in her heart.

The shepherds then returned, giving glory and praise to God for everything they had heard and seen, just as the angels had told them.

On the eighth day, the baby was circumcised; he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

When the day of purification came according to the law of Moses, they took the baby to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 

as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be dedicated to God. 

And they offered a sacrifice as instructed in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

There lived in Jerusalem at that time a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel;

and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord.

So, he was led into the temple by the Holy Spirit when the parents brought the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law.

Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, O Lord, you can dismiss

your servant in peace,

for you have fulfilled your word

and my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples.

A light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory of your people Israel.”

His father and mother wondered about what was said regarding the child. 

Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: 

“Know this: your son is a sign; a sign established for the falling and rising of many in Israel, a sign of contradiction;

and a sword will pierce your own soul so that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. After leaving her father’s house, she had been married for seven years; since then, she had been continually at the temple, serving God as a widow—night and day—in fasting and prayer. 

She was now eighty-four. 

When that time came, she gave praise to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When the parents had fulfilled all that was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to their town, Nazareth in Galilee. 

There, the child grew in stature and strength and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.

Every year, Jesus’s parents traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was customary.

And when Jesus was twelve years old, he went up with them according to the custom of this feast.

After the festival ended, they left, but the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem, and his parents didn’t know it.

They assumed he was with their group of travelers, and after walking all day, they searched for him among their relatives and friends.

As they didn’t find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him;2

and on the third day, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 

 All the people were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 

His parents were very surprised when they saw him, and his mother said to him: 

“Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I were very worried while searching for you.” 

Then he said to them: 

“Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” 

But they did not understand this answer.

Jesus went down with them to Nazareth and remained obedient to them. His mother kept all these things in her heart.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and age, and in divine and human favor.