Luke 2:8-28

8Shepherds were in the fields near Bethlehem. They were taking turns watching their flock during the night.

9An angel from the Lord suddenly appeared to them. The glory of the Lord filled the area with light, and they were terrified.

10The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! I have good news for you, a message that will fill everyone with joy.

11Today your Savior, Christ the Lord, was born in David’s city.

12This is how you will recognize him: You will find an infant wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.”

13Suddenly, a large army of angels appeared with the angel. They were praising God by saying,

14“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those who have his good will!”

15The angels left them and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see what the Lord has told us about.”

16They went quickly and found Mary and Joseph with the baby, who was lying in a manger.

17When they saw the child, they repeated what they had been told about him.

18Everyone who heard the shepherds’ story was amazed.

19Mary treasured all these things in her heart and always thought about them.

20As the shepherds returned to their flock, they glorified and praised God for everything they had seen and heard. Everything happened the way the angel had told them.

21Eight days after his birth, the child was circumcised and named Jesus. This was the name the angel had given him before his mother became pregnant.

22After the days required by Moses’ Teachings to make a mother clean  had passed, Joseph and Mary went to Jerusalem. They took Jesus to present him to the Lord.

23They did exactly what was written in the Lord’s Teachings: “Every firstborn boy is to be set apart as holy to the Lord.”

24They also offered a sacrifice as required by the Lord’s Teachings: “a pair of mourning doves or two young pigeons.”

25A man named Simeon was in Jerusalem. He lived an honorable and devout life. He was waiting for the one who would comfort Israel. The Holy Spirit was with Simeon

26and had told him that he wouldn’t die until he had seen the Messiah, whom the Lord would send.

27Moved by the Spirit, Simeon went into the temple courtyard. Mary and Joseph were bringing the child Jesus into the courtyard at the same time. They brought him so that they could do for him what Moses’ Teachings required.

28Then Simeon took the child in his arms and praised God by saying,