A time of Lexio devena for the discerning heart.

Of the Annunciation.

As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.

For the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord. Say slowly from your heart, Jesus, I trust in you. You take over.

Become aware that he is with you, upon you with love wanting to be heard deep within your

heart a reading from the Holy Gospel, according to Luke, chapter 1,

verses 26 through 38.

The angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

He went in and said to her, Rejoice so highly favored, the Lord is with you.

She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could

mean. But the angel said to her, Mary, do not be afraid. You have won God's favor. Listen,

you are to conceive and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus.

He will be called great and will be called Son of the Most High.

The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David,

he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and his reign will have no end.

Mary said to the angel, But how can this come about since I am a virgin?

The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the angel answered, and the power of the most high will

cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God.

Know this too.

Your kinswoman Elizabeth has, in her old age, herself conceived a son,

and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month,

for nothing is impossible to God.

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