One day, when Zechariah was officiating as priest before God, during the turn of his Division,

And shall reconcile many of the Israelites to the Lord their God.

"I am Gabriel," the angel answered, "who stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

Six months later the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

When the angel spoke again: "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

The child shall be great and shall be called 'Son of the Most High,' and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,

"The Holy Spirit shall descend upon you," answered the angel, "and the Power of the Most High shall overshadow you; and therefore the child will be called 'holy,' and 'Son of God.'

For no promise from God shall fail to be fulfilled."

My spirit delights in God my Savior;

And immediately Zechariah recovered his voice and the use of his tongue, and began to bless God.

"Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel, Who has visited his people and wrought their deliverance,

Through the tender mercy of our God, Whereby the Dawn will break on us from Heaven,

"Have no fear," the angel said. "For I bring you good news of a great joy in store for all the nation.

Then suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly Host, praising God, and singing--

"Glory to God on high, And on earth peace among men in whom he finds pleasure."

And the shepherds went back, giving glory and praise to God for all that they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

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

And then a widow, till she had reached the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple Courts, but, fasting and praying, worshiped God night and day.

At that moment she came up, and began publicly to thank God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the deliverance of Jerusalem.

The child grew and became strong and wise, and the blessing of God was upon him.

And Jesus grew in wisdom as he grew in years, and 'gained the blessing of God and men.'

And when Annas and Caiaphas were High Priests, a Command from God came to John, the son of Zechariah, while he was in the wilderness.

And all mankind shall see the Salvation of God."'

Let your lives, then, prove your repentance; and do not begin to say among yourselves 'Abraham is our ancestor,' for I tell you that out of these very stones God is able to raise descendants for Abraham!

Already, indeed, the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

And so with many different exhortations John told his Good News to the people.

Enosh, Seth and Adam the son of GOD.

So the Devil said to him: "If you are God's Son, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread."

And Jesus answered him: "Scripture says--'Thou shalt do homage to the Lord thy God, and worship him only.'"

The Devil next led him into Jerusalem, and, placing him on the parapet of the Temple, said: "If you are God's Son throw yourself down from here,

But Jesus answered him: "It is said--'Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.'"

'The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, For he has consecrated me to bring Good News to the poor, He has sent me to proclaim release to captives and restoration of sight to the blind, To set the oppressed at liberty,

"Stop! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"

Bending over her, he rebuked the fever; the fever left her, and she immediately got up and began to wait upon them.

And even demons came out from many people, screaming 'You are the Son of God.' Jesus rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

Jesus, however, said to them: "I must take the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other town also, for that was why I was sent."

Once, when the people were pressing round Jesus as the listened to God's Message, he happened to be standing by the shore of the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats close to the shore.

And there some men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed. They tried to get him in and lay him before Jesus;

The Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees began debating about this. "Who is this man who speaks so blasphemously?" they asked. "Who can forgive sins except God?"

Which is the easier?--to say 'Your sins have been forgiven you'? or to say 'Get up, and walk about'?

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"-- he spoke to the paralyzed man-- "To you I say, Get up, and take up your pallet, and go to your home."

Instantly the man stood up before their eyes, took up what he had been lying on, and went to his home, praising God.

The people, one and all, were lost in amazement, and praised God; and in great awe they said: "We have seen marvelous things to-day!"

Levi left everything and got up and followed him.

That he went into the House of God, and took the consecrated bread and ate it, and gave some to his companions, though only the priests are allowed to eat it?"

And Jesus said to them: "I ask you, is it allowable to do good on the Sabbath--or harm? to save a life, or let it perish?"

Now about that time, Jesus went out, up the hill, to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Then, raising his eyes and looking at his disciples, Jesus spoke as follows: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.

When a man gives one of you a blow on the cheek, offer the other cheek as well; and, when any one takes away your cloak, do not keep back your coat either.

If you lend only to those from whom you expect to get something, what thanks will be due to you? Even the outcast lend to the outcast in the hope of getting as much in return!

There is no such thing as a good tree bearing worthless fruit, or, on the other hand, a worthless tree bearing good fruit.

A good man, from the good stores of his heart, brings out what is good; while a bad man, from his bad stores, brings out what is bad. For what fills a man's heart will rise to his lips.

Just as he approached the gate of the town, there was a dead man being carried out for burial--an only son, and his mother was a widow. A large number of the people of the town were with her.

Every one was awe-struck and began praising God. "A great Prophet has arisen among us," they said; "and God has visited his people."

So his answer to the question was: "Go and report to John what you have witnessed and heard--the blind recover their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, the Good News is told to the poor.

There is, I tell you, no one born of a woman who is greater than John; and yet the lowliest in the Kingdom of God is greater than he."

(All the people, when they heard this, and even the tax- gatherers, having accepted John's baptism, acknowledged the justice of God.

But the Pharisees and the Students of the Law, having rejected John's baptism, frustrated God's purpose in regard to them.)

Shortly afterwards, Jesus went on a journey through the towns and villages, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve,

"To you," he said, "the knowledge of the hidden truths of the Kingdom of God has been imparted, but to others in parables only, that 'though they have eyes they may not see, and though they have ears, they may not understand.'

This is the parable--The seed is God's Message.

But by that in the good ground are meant those who, having heard the Message, keep it in the good, rich soil of their hearts, and patiently yield a return.

His reply, spoken to them all, was: "My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God's teaching and do what it bids."

One day about that time, Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them: "Let us go across the lake."

Catching sight of Jesus, he shrieked out and threw himself down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed: "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you not to torment me."

Upon which all the people in the neighborhood of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, for they were terrified. Jesus got into a boat and returned.

"Go back to your home," he said, "and relate the story of all that God has done for you." So the man went through the whole town and proclaimed, as he went, all that Jesus had done for him.

He sent them out as his Messengers, to proclaim the Kingdom of God, and to work cures.

Then they set out and went from village to village, telling the Good News and curing people everywhere.

But the people recognized him and followed him in crowds; and Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the Kingdom of God, while he cured those who were in need of help.

(For the men among them were about five thousand.) "Get them seated in companies," was his reply, "about fifty in each."

This they did, and got all the people seated.

"But you," he went on, "who do you say that I am?" And to this Peter answered: "The Christ of God."

What good does it do a man if, when he has gained the whole world, he has lost or forfeited himself?

Indeed, I tell you, some who are standing before me will not know death, till they have seen the Kingdom of God."

And, as Moses and Elijah were passing away from Jesus, Peter exclaimed: "Sir, it is good to be here; let us make three tents, one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He did not know what he was saying;

And all present were struck with awe at the majesty of God. In the midst of the general astonishment at all that Jesus was doing, he said to his disciples:

But Jesus said: "Leave the dead to bury their dead; but go yourself and carry far and wide the news of the Kingdom of God."

"Master," said another, "I will follow you; but first let me say good-bye to my family."

But Jesus answered: "No one who looks back, after putting his hand to the plough, is fitted for the Kingdom of God."

Cure the sick there, and tell people 'The Kingdom of God is close at hand.

'We wipe off the very dust of your town which has clung to Our feet; still, be assured that the Kingdom of God is close at Hand.'

At that same time, moved to exultation by the Holy Spirit, Jesus said: "I thank thee, Father, Lord of Heaven and earth, that, though thou hast hidden these things from the wise and learned, thou hast revealed them to the childlike! Yes, Father, I thank thee that this has seemed good to thee.

His reply was--"'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thou dost thyself.'"

But only a few are necessary, or rather one. Mary has chosen the good part, and it shall not be taken away from her."

And suppose that the other should answer from inside 'Do not trouble me; the door is already fastened, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything';

I tell you that, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is a friend, yet because of his persistence he will rouse himself and give him what he wants.

If you, then, naturally wicked though you are, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those that ask him!"

But, if it is by the hand of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God must already be upon you.

But Jesus replied: "Rather, happy are those who listen to God's Message and keep it."

But alas for you Pharisees! You pay tithes on mint, rue, and herbs of all kinds, and pass over justice and love to God. These last you ought to have put into practice without neglecting the first.

That is why the Wisdom of God said--"I will send to them Prophets and Apostles,

From the blood of Abel down to the blood of Zechariah, who was slain between the altar and the House of God." Yes, I tell you, it will be exacted from this generation.

Are not five sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them has escaped God's notice.

Every one, I tell you, who shall acknowledge me before his fellow men, the Son of Man, also, will acknowledge before God's angels;

But he, who disowns me before his fellow men, will be altogether disowned before God's angels.

And I will say to myself, Now you have plenty of good things put by for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.'

But God said to the man 'Fool! This very night your life is being demanded; and as for all you have prepared--who will have it?'

So it is with those who lay by wealth for themselves and are not rich to the glory of God."

And Jesus said to his disciples: "That is why I say to you, Do not be anxious about the life here--what you can get to eat; nor yet about your body--what you can get to wear.