1. Chapter 3 - The promise is fulfilled in Christ God depends on our cooperation to carry out his plane of redemption. Annunciation Luke 1:26-31 – Angel of Gabriel sent from God to a city of Galilee in Nazareth to Virgin betrothed to a am an whose name is Joseph, of the house of David; the Virgin’s name was Mary. What does the Angel say to Mary? “ Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!”……”Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your women a bear a son, and you should call his name Jesus.” “Full of Grace” – was used instead of Mary’s name This particular word (Greek Kecharitomene) has never been used to address anyone in Sacred Scripture. God chose Mary from all time to bear God himself in her womb and to prepare her for unique role

2. Immaculate Conception The very moment of her conception, the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from all stain of original sin. This simply means that from the beginning, she was in a state of grace, sharing in God's own life, and that she was free from the sinful inclinations which have beset human nature after the fall. There are two passages in Scripture which point us to this truth. 1.Genesis 3.15, in which we see the parallel between Mary and Eve of which the early Church Fathers already spoke: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed: he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." The Jews saw this passage as referring to the struggle between Christ and Satan, and so the Church see in "the woman" a prophetic foreshadowing of the Virgin Mary.  If there is to be complete enmity between the woman and the serpent, then she never should have been in any way subject to him even briefly. This implies an Immaculate conception. 2. Lk 1:28: angel calls her "full of grace“: this verse we can see even more strongly the complete enmity with the serpent--for God's grace is complete opposed to Satan's reign. But if Mary was "full of grace," it seems that she must have been conceived immaculate.

3. Name of Jesus Jesus means “God saves” Archangel Gabriel then declared a second time the child would be called the “Son of God” St. Matthew quotes the Prophet Isaiah “ A virgin shall conceive an bear a son, and his name shall be called “Emmanuel”. “God is with us” Christ is not his last name but Jesus of Christ, Christ meaning “anointed one Christ’s Identity in terms of person and nature

4. St. Joseph’s Vocation? Foster – Father of Jesus Christ. He was to raise and educate Jesus and protect the Holy Family St. Joseph is mode both because of his response to his vocation and the manner where by he carried it out. Genealogy of St. Matthew’s and St. Luke’s Both indicate Christ’s Kingdom is universal – embracing al people as of all times  Includes Jews, Gentiles, men and women, and sinners and saints. The Visitation Found in the Gospel of St. Luke What is the Visitation?  The Blessed Virgin Mary’s visit to her Cousin St. Elizabeth  St. Elizabeth is the mother of St. John the Baptist (no the Gospel writer)  Both Women were pregnant at the visit  As they greeted “St. John the Baptist” miraculously recognized his Cousin, Jesus – Leapt for Joy in his mother’s womb.

5. Significant of the Visitation St. Elizabeth understood the meaning of this event – recognized the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Mother of the Redeemer Blessed Mother is often called the Ark of the New Covenant – why? The New Convent is Jesus Christ himself Mary in special way brought Christ to others From the moment of the Annulation by the Archangel Gabriel until the Nativity of Christ – Blessed Mother was indeed a holy vessel par excellence (An Ark), containing the very presence of God on earth. The Birth of Christ Birth of Christ is in St. Matthew and St. Luke’s Gospel St. Matthew 1:25 & 2:1a - Mary’s son is born in Bethlehem of Judea, and named Jesus 2:1b-12 - Magi from the East come; they first visit Herod, then Jesus 2:13-21 - Joseph & Mary flee to Egypt with the child Jesus; the Innocents are murdered; the Holy Family returns to Israel 2:22-23 - They journey to Nazareth 2:6-7 - Mary gives birth to her son in Bethlehem of Judea 2:8-14 - Angels appear to some shepherds 2:15-20 - Shepherds visit Mary & Joseph & the infant lying in a manger 2:21 - The infant is circumcised & named Jesus 2:22-38 - Jesus is presented to God in the Temple

6. The Birth of Christ The Gospel according to Mark does not contain a narrative of Jesus' birth, but it does make a few brief references to his family heritage The Gospel according to John does not contain a narrative of Jesus' birth, it does mention his "coming into the world" and "becoming flesh" (Latin: incarnatus est), as well as several debates about his heritage (Is he Judean or Galilean? human or divine?): The Incarnation: "The Word Made Flesh" "The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth." (1:9-14)