(Adapted from Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-20)
One day, an angel named Gabriel visited a young lady named Mary.
“Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you,” Gabriel spoke.
Mary’s whole body shook with fear.
The angel continued in an attempt to calm Mary who wasn’t much more than a girl, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”
Mary still trembled.
Gabriel began boldly telling her why he had come, “You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever, his Kingdom will never end!”
Mary placed a hand over her open, quivering mouth, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin. I have not been with my fiancée.”
Gabriel nodded his head and replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. The baby to be born from your womb will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. Furthermore, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant in her old age! People used to say she was barren, but she has conceived a son and is now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God. Elizabeth’s baby will grow up to prepare the way for your baby.”
An unexplainable peace fell over Mary as she responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” Mary didn’t know what she would say to her fiancé, Joseph, but she did know that she had to obey her Lord.
Gabriel smiled and left as quickly as he had appeared.
A few days later, Mary went off to Judea to visit her relative, Elizabeth. When Elizabeth saw Mary, the child in her womb leaped and Elizabeth knew that something wonderful had happened to Mary.
Elizabeth joyfully cried out, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should visit me?”
Mary’s lower lip dropped. “Elizabeth, do you know what has happened to me?”
Elizabeth smiled brightly, “When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed, Mary, because you believed that the Lord would do what he said.”
Mary smiled at Elizabeth’s faith and then thought back to Gabriel’s reaction to her. Then she spoke again, “I think God is doing something very great.”
Elizabeth nodded, patted Mary’s belly and then rubbed her own.
Hope and love enveloped Mary as she spoke again, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For he took notice of his lowly servant girl, and from now on all generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One is holy, and he has done great things for me. He shows mercy from generation to generation to all who fear him. His mighty arm has done tremendous things!”
Mary took a deep breath and continued, “He has scattered the proud and haughty ones. He has brought down princes from their thrones and exalted the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things and sent the rich away with empty hands. He has helped his servant Israel and remembered to be merciful. For he made this promise to our ancestors, to Abraham and his children forever.”
Many months later, the Roman emperor decreed a census. All people had to return to their ancestral towns to register. Joseph, Mary’s fiancé, had to travel to Bethlehem because he was a descendant of King David. An obviously pregnant Mary went with him.
While in Bethlehem, Mary went into labor. The census had brought many visitors to Bethlehem and Joseph and Mary found no vacant rooms. However, the baby would not wait. It was born in a stable where Mary wrapped him up with cloths and laid him in a manger to sleep.
Meek and humble shepherds began to show up at the stable. They all told stories of angels that had visited them. The angels had brought them good news that will bring joy to all people. The Savior has been born in Bethlehem. The shepherds were told that they would recognize him when they found a baby wrapped in strips of cloth lying in a manger. Before returning to heaven, the angels had said, “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” The shepherds then paused their lives and trudged to Bethlehem to see this miracle of the Lord.
Mary listened closely to all of the stories about her son. Her heart threatened to overflow with immense joy. She knew that God was up to something wonderful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=oecH-V9RkQg