Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home. (He) made love to his wife, and the Lord remembered her. So in the course of time (she) became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.” … And the Lord was gracious to (her); she gave birth to three sons and two daughters. … Children are a heritage from the Lord, a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the person whose quiver is full of them.

Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. … Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried since your birth. I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

An angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” … On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

2Sa 11:4-5; 1Sa 1:19-20, 1Sa 2:21, Ps 127:3-5; Ps 51:5, Is 46:3-4; Mt 1:20-21, Lu 2:21

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.