It fell to him by lot, in accordance with the practice among the priests, to go into the Temple of the Lord and burn incense;

And, as it was the Hour of Incense, the people were all praying outside.

Zechariah was startled at the sight and was awe-struck.

And now you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when this takes place, because you did not believe what I said, though my words will be fulfilled in due course."

Meanwhile the people were watching for Zechariah, wondering at his remaining so long in the Temple.

When he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision there. But Zechariah kept making signs to them, and remained dumb.

"This is what the Lord has done for me," she said, "now that he has deigned to take away the reproach under which I have been living."

Mary was much disturbed at his words, and was wondering to herself what such a greeting could mean,

And Elizabeth, your cousin, is herself also expecting a son in her old age; and it is now the sixth month with her, though she is called barren;

"I am the servant of the Lord," exclaimed Mary; "let it be with me as you have said." Then the angel left her.

Soon after this Mary set out, and made her way quickly into the hill-country, to a town in Judah;

He has stretched out his hand to his servant Israel, Ever mindful of his mercy

And they made signs to the child's father, to find out what he wished the child to be called.

All their neighbors were awe-struck at this; and throughout the hill-country of Judea the whole story was much talked about;

And all who heard it kept it in mind, asking one another-- "What can this child be destined to become?" For the Power of the Lord was with him.

In that same country-side were shepherds out in the open fields, watching their flocks that night,

Now, when the angels had left them and gone back to Heaven, the shepherds said to one another: "Let us go at once to Bethlehem, and see this thing that has happened, of which the Lord has told us."

And, when they saw it, they told of all that had been said to them about this child.

All who heard the shepherds were astonished at their story,

While Mary treasured up all that they said, and dwelt upon it in her thoughts.

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.

Eight days after the birth of the child, when it was time to circumcise him, he received the name Jesus--the name given him by the angel before his conception.

There was at that time in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who lived in constant expectation of the Consolation of Israel, and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not die until he had seen the Lord's Christ.

Moved by the Spirit, Simeon came into the Temple Courts, and, when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the Law,

While the child's father and mother were wondering at what was said about him,

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.

Every year the child's parents used to go to Jerusalem at the Passover Festival.

And had finished their visit; but, when they started to return, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, without their knowing it.

It was not till the third day that they found him in the Temple Courts, sitting among the Teachers, now listening to them, now asking them questions.

All who listened to him marveled at his intelligence and his answers.

"What made you search for me?" he answered. "Did not you know that I must be in my Father's House?"

His parents did not understand what he meant.

This was in fulfillment of what is said in the writings of the Prophet Isaiah--'The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: "Make ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight.

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."

"What are we to do then?" the people asked.

Even tax-gatherers came to be baptized, and said to John: "Teacher, what are we to do?"

And when some soldiers on active service asked "And we--what are we to do?" he said: "Never use violence, or exact anything by false accusation; and be content with your pay."

Melchiah, Addi, Cosam, Elmodam, Er,

All that time he ate nothing; and, when it was over, he became hungry.

And Jesus answered him: "Scripture says--'It is not on bread alone that man is to live.'"

"I will give you all this power, and the splendor of them; for it has been given into my hands and I give it to whom I wish.

If you, therefore, will do homage before me, it shall all be yours."

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

The book given him was that of the Prophet Isaiah; and Jesus opened the book and found the place where it says--

'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,

Then, closing the book and returning it to the attendant, he sat down. The eyes of all in the Synagogue were fixed upon him,

All who were present spoke well of him, and were astonished at the beautiful words that fell from his lips. "Is not he Joseph's son?" they asked.

"Doubtless," said Jesus, "you will remind me of the saying-- 'Doctor, cure yourself;' and you will say 'Do here in your own country all that we have heard that has been done at Capernaum.'

And yet it was not to one of them that Elijah was sent, but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidonia.

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the Prophet Elisha, yet it was not one of them who was made clean, but Naaman the Syrian."

Starting up, they drove Jesus out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town stood, intending to hurl him down.

They were amazed at his teaching, because his words were spoken with authority.

In the Synagogue there was a man with the spirit of a foul demon in him, who called out loudly:

"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!"

But Jesus rebuked the demon. "Be silent! Come out from him," he said. The demon flung the man down in the middle of the people, and then came out from him, without causing him further harm.

And they were all lost in amazement, and kept saying to one another: "What words are these? For he gives his commands to the foul spirits with a marvelous authority, and they come out."

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

At sunset, all who had friends suffering from various diseases took them to Jesus; and he placed his hands upon every one of them and cured 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.

At daybreak, Jesus went out and walked to a lonely spot. But crowds of people began to look for him; and they came to where he was and tried to detain him and prevent his leaving them.

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon: "Push off into deep water, and throw out your nets for a haul."

"We have been hard at work all night, Sir," answered Simon, "and have not caught anything, but, at your bidding, I will throw out the nets."

When Simon Peter saw this, he threw himself down at Jesus' knees, exclaiming: "Master, leave me, for I am a sinful man!"

For he and all who were with him were lost in amazement at the haul of fish which they had made;

Stretching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying as he did so: "I am willing; become clean." Instantly the leprosy left the man;

And then Jesus impressed upon him that he was not to say a word to any one, "but," he added, "set out and show yourself to the priest, and make the offerings for your cleansing, in the manner directed by Moses, as evidence of your cure."

When Jesus became aware of the way in which they were debating, he turned to them and exclaimed: "What are you debating with yourselves?

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

After this, Jesus went out; and he noticed a tax-gatherer, named Levi, sitting in the tax-office, and said to him: "Follow me."

And Levi gave a great entertainment at his house, in honor of Jesus; and a large number of tax-gatherers and others were at table with them.

In answer Jesus said: "It is not those who are well that need a doctor, but those who are ill.

Then, as an illustration, Jesus said to them: "No man ever tears a piece from a new garment and puts it upon an old one; for, if he does, he will not only tear the new garment, but the piece from the new one will not match the old.

And no man puts new wine into old wine-skins; for, if he does, the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine itself will run out, and the skins be lost.

One Sabbath Jesus was walking through cornfields, and hi disciples were picking the ears of wheat, and rubbing them in their hands, and eating them.

"Why are you doing what it is not allowable to do on the Sabbath?" asked some of the Pharisees.

Jesus' answer was: "Have not you read even of what David did, when he was hungry, he and his companions--

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?"

Jesus, however, knew what was in the their minds, and said to the man whose hand was withered: "Stand up and come out into the middle." The man stood up;

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?"

Then, looking round at them all, he said to the man: "Stretch out your hand." The man did so; and his hand had become sound.

But the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees were goaded to madness, and consulted together what they could do to Jesus.

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

And every one in the crowd was trying to touch him, because a power went out from him which restored them all.

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.

Then indeed you may be glad and dance for joy, for be sure that your reward in Heaven will be great; for that is what their ancestors did to the Prophets.

Alas for you when all men speak well of you; for this is what their ancestors did to the false Prophets.

Give to every one who asks of you; and, when any one takes away what is yours, do not demand its return.

If you love only those who love you, what thanks will be due to you? Why, even the outcast love those who love them!

For, if you show kindness only to those who show kindness to you, what thanks will be due to you? Even the outcast do that!

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!

Give, and others will give to you. A generous measure, pressed and shaken down, and running over, will they pour into your lap; For the measure that you mete will be meted out to you in return."

A scholar is not above his teacher; yet every finished scholar shall be like his teacher.

And why do you look at the straw in your brother's eye, while you pay no attention at all to the beam in your own?

How can you say to your brother 'Brother, let me take out the straw in your eye,' while you yourself do not see the beam in your own? Hypocrite! Take out the beam from your own eye first, and then you will see clearly how to take out the straw in your brother's.

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.

Why do you call me 'Master! Master!' and yet fail to do what I tell you?

Every one who comes to me and listens to my teaching and acts upon it--I will show you to whom he may be compared.