“Annunciation: ‘God Has Heard Your Prayers'”

Luke 1:5-13, {5} In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. {6} Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. {7} But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old. {8} Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, {9} he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. {10} And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. {11} Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. {12} When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. {13} But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.