"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for He has looked favourably on His people and redeemed them. He has raised up a Mighty Saviour for us in the house of His servant David as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us.
"Thus He has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors and has remembered His holy covenant, the oath which He swore to our ancestor Abraham to grant us that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
"And you child, will be called the prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people, by the forgiveness of their sins.
"By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and guide our feet into the way of peace."
This is the message of Christmas!