Daily Readings - Tue Jan 01 2019

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.

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

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 profound expressions of God’s blessings and the fulfillment of His promises. The first reading from Numbers presents the priestly blessing, a sacred invocation of God’s favor upon His people, emphasizing protection, mercy, and peace. This blessing, passed down through generations, serves as a reminder of God’s enduring presence and care. The second reading from Galatians reveals the culmination of God’s plan in the person of Jesus Christ, who was born under the law to redeem humanity. Through Jesus, we are adopted as sons and daughters of God, receiving the Spirit that cries out to our heavenly Father. The Gospel from Luke vividly portrays the shepherds’ encounter with the newborn Jesus, highlighting their faith and the wonder of Mary, who treasured the divine events in her heart. These readings are intricately connected, each shedding light on the mystery of God’s love. The priestly blessing in Numbers finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who is the source of all blessings. Galatians explains the theological depth of this fulfillment, showing how Jesus’ arrival transforms our status from servants to sons, granting us inheritance in God’s kingdom. Luke’s narrative illustrates the human response to this divine grace—the shepherds’ haste to worship and Mary’s contemplative heart. Together, these texts reveal the unity of God’s plan, where ancient blessings and promises converge in the birth of Jesus. In our daily lives, these readings invite us to recognize and embrace the blessings of God, just as the shepherds recognized the significance of Jesus’ birth. Like Mary, we are called to ponder the wonders of God’s work in our lives and in the world. The moral lesson here is one of gratitude and trust. Just as the priestly blessing was a reminder of God’s faithfulness, and just as the shepherds responded with joy and praise, we too should acknowledge God’s presence and provision. Let us, like Mary, treasure the Word of God in our hearts, allowing it to shape our thoughts, actions, and relationships. In doing so, we become living expressions of the blessings we have received, reflecting God’s love to a world in need.