Friday, December 17 | Luke 2:1-7

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Thursday, December 16 | Luke 1:76-80

76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace.”

80 And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

Wednesday, December 15 | Luke 1:67-75

67 His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,

because he has come to his people and redeemed them. 69 He has raised up a horn[a] of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David 70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), 71 salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us— 72 to show mercy to our ancestors

and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies,

and to enable us to serve him without fear 75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.