Meantime, the people were outside waiting for Zachary, and they wondered that he stayed so long. When he came out he could not speak to them, and they knew that he had seen a vision.

A short time after this, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to bear another message. He came to Nazareth, a little town in Galilee where lived a Virgin, the spouse of a holy man named Joseph, and the Virgin's name was Mary.

And the angel coming in to Mary said unto her, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women."

At this Mary was troubled, not knowing the meaning of these words, but the angel said, "Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found grace with God." And the angel told her that she should have a son and should call His name Jesus, which means Savior.

"He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High," said the angel. "He shall reign in the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there shall be no end." Then the angel told Mary about her cousin, Elizabeth, that she, also, was to have a son.

And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done to me according to thy word." And the angel departed.

Then Mary set out with haste to go to Judea to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. When they told each other these wonderful tidings they were both so full of joy that they burst out singing praises to God.

Elizabeth knew that it was a great honor to her for Mary to come into her house. She cried, Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?"

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And Mary said, "My soul doth magnify the Lord and my spirit hath rejoiced in God, my Savior. Because he hath regarded the humility of His handmaid; for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed."

And Mary remained three months with Elizabeth, her cousin, and then returned to her own home.

All things came to pass as the angel had said. First a little child was born in the home of Zachary. When they were about to give him a name, the friends and neighbors said he must be called Zachary for his father. But Elizabeth said, no, he

should be called John.

They made signs to his father to find out what he wished to call him, and he wrote, "His name is John." Then Zachary, who had not spoken a word since the angel appeared at the altar, broke out into praises to God: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; because He hath visited His people."

This child was the great John the Baptist, who was to be called the prophet of the Highest. Christ Jesus, the King of Glory, was coming to redeem the whole world. And John was to go before the King, as His herald, to prepare His way.

HOLY NIGHT

How soft the light on Judea's hills and on her blessed plains, While o'er the shepherds watching there, unbroken silence reigns,

But see, a light like morn on midnight breaking,
And hark, angelic choirs the song awaking.

"Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people."

The Prince of Peace this day is born in David's city, fair, Go, bow, before His sacred feet, and offer homage there, To God on high, be endless praise and glory;

Oh, haste, tell all the world the wondrous story.

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