MARY FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD*

And in the sixth month (of Elizabeth's pregnancy) the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.  And the angel came to her, and said, "Hail, you who are highly favored, the Lord is with you:  you are blessed among women." 

And when she saw him, she was troubled and wondered about the angel's greeting.  And the angel said unto her, "Fear not, Mary:  for you have found favor from God (Favor, as it appears here, is from the Greek χαριτόω (charitoō), which means "to be given grace and made acceptable by God" - see Eph. 1:6).  And, behold, you shall conceive and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.  He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His ancestor, David:  and He shall reign over the house of Israel forever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end." 

Then said Mary unto the angel, "How shall this be, seeing that I have not been with a man?"  And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit shall come upon you, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow you: therefore also that Holy Child Who shall be born of you shall be the Son of God.  And, behold, your cousin Elisabeth has also conceived a son in her old age: and she is in her sixth month, she who was formerly called barren.  But with God nothing is impossible."  And Mary said, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me as you say."  And the angel departed from her. 

And Mary arose in those days, and quickly went to the hill country, to a city of Judah; and when she entered into the house of Zacharias, she greeted his wife Elisabeth.  And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the greeting of Mary, her baby leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:  and she said with a loud voice, "You, of all women, are blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.  And why is it that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For as soon as I heard your greeting, the my baby leaped in my womb for joy.  And blessed are you who believed:  for those things which were told her from the Lord, shall be accomplished."
And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.  For He has regarded the low estate of His handmaiden:  for, behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.  For He that is mighty has done in me a great thing; and Holy is His name.  And His mercy is on all who reverence Him from generation to generation.  He has showed His great power, and He has scattered the proud due to the their vain imaginations.  He has brought down the mighty from their self-appointed thrones, and has raised up those of low degree.  He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He has sent empty away.  He has helped his servant Israel, because of his great mercy; as He promised to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed forever."  And Mary stayed with Elisabeth for about three months, and then she returned to her own house.

*  Luke 1:26-56 (SLV - The Word as I understand it)!