And he will go as forerunner before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him.”

He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.

Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! Listen carefully, for I proclaim to you good news that brings great joy to all the people:

There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death.

She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.

but (because they assumed that he was in their group of travelers) they went a day’s journey. Then they began to look for him among their relatives and acquaintances.

After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

Even now the ax is laid at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil deeds that he had done,

Then Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and news about him spread throughout the surrounding countryside.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed,

Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.”

Then astonishment seized them all, and they glorified God. They were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen incredible things today.”

Then he looked up at his disciples and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God belongs to you.

for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles.

“Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice – I will show you what he is like:

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to him, asking him to come and heal his slave.

The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’

and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities: Mary (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out,