Daily Readings - Mon Jan 01 2018

First Reading - Numbers 6.22-27

²²And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying²³"Say to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them²⁴‘May the Lord bless you and keep you²⁵May the Lord reveal his face to you and take pity on you²⁶May the Lord turn his countenance toward you and grant peace to you.²⁷And they shall invoke my name over the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.

Second Reading - Galatians 4.4-7

Galatians

Chapter 4

⁴But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law⁵so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons⁶Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: "Abba, Father.⁷And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is also an heir, through God

Gospel - Luke 2.16-21

Luke

Chapter 2

¹⁶And they went quickly. And they found Mary and Joseph; and the infant was lying in a manger¹⁷Then, upon seeing this, they understood the word that had been spoken to them about this boy¹⁸And all who heard it were amazed by this, and by those things which were told to them by the shepherds¹⁹But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told to them²¹And after eight days were ended, so that the boy would be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, just as he was called by the Angel before he was conceived in the womb

Sermon

In today's readings, we encounter three distinct yet interconnected narratives that illuminate God's enduring love and grace. The first reading from Numbers presents the Aaronic blessing, a sacred prayer where God instructs Moses to have Aaron invoke divine favor upon the Israelites. This blessing, still cherished today, reflects God's desire to bestow peace and protection upon His people. The second reading from Galatians shifts our focus to the epochal moment of Jesus' incarnation. Paul elucidates how God's Son, born under the law, redeems humanity, transforming our status from servants to sons and daughters. This adoption grants us the Spirit, enabling us to address God as "Abba, Father," signifying an intimate and heir-like relationship with the Divine. The Gospel narrative in Luke vividly portrays the shepherds' visit to the newborn Jesus, Mary's contemplative heart, and the naming of Jesus during His circumcision. This scene underscores the tangible arrival of God's grace in human history, inviting us to reflect on the significance of Jesus' birth and our response to it. These readings weave together the themes of divine blessing, adoption, and incarnation. The Aaronic blessing prefigures the ultimate blessing in Christ, while Paul's epistle reveals our new identity as God's children. Luke's account grounds these theological truths in the incarnate Jesus, who embodies God's love and grace. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace our identity as beloved children of God, to live with the assurance of divine favor, and to reflect on the profound implications of Jesus' birth. As we navigate life's challenges, may we, like Mary, ponder the Word in our hearts and, like the shepherds, glorify God for the wonders He has wrought. Let us cherish the grace that makes us heirs of God's promise, living with the joy and humility that comes from knowing we are deeply loved.