In those days, Caesar Augustus published a decree ordering a census of the whole Roman world. This first census took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All the people were instructed to go back to the towns of their birth to register. And so Joseph went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to "the city of David" -- Bethlehem, in Judea, because Joseph was of the house and lineage of David; he went to register with Mary, his espoused wife, who was pregnant.

      While they were there, the time came for her delivery. She gave birth to her firstborn, a son; she put him in a simple cloth wrapped like a receiving blanket, and laid him in a feeding trough for cattle, because there was no room for them at the inn.

      There were shepherds in the area living in the fields and keeping nightwatch by turns over their flock. The angel of God appeared to them, and the glory of God shone around them; they were very much afraid.

      The angel said to them, "You have nothing to fear! I come to proclaim good news to you -- news of a great joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in David's city, a savior -- the Messiah -- has been born to you. Let this be a sign to you: you'll find an infant wrapped in a simple cloth, lying in a manger."

      Suddenly, there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in high heaven!
And on earth, peace to those on whom God's favor rests."

      When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go straight to Bethlehem and see this event that God has made known to us." They hurried and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger; once they saw this, they reported what they had been told concerning the child. All who heard about it were astonished at the report given by the shepherds.

      Mary treasured all these things and reflected on them in her heart. The shepherds went away glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told. (Luke 2:1-20)