Daily Readings - Fri Jan 01 2021

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

The readings today invite us to reflect on God's blessings, our adoption as His children, and the response of faith. In Numbers, we hear of the priestly blessing, a sacred ritual where God's chosen priests invoke divine favor upon the Israelites, seeking protection, mercy, and peace. This blessing underscores God's covenantal love and the role of priests as intermediaries of His grace. In Galatians, Paul reveals the fulfillment of this divine plan through Jesus Christ. Sent in the fullness of time, Jesus redeems us from the law, enabling us to become sons and daughters of God. Through Him, we receive the Spirit, who endows us with a deep, personal relationship with God, crying out "Abba, Father." This adoption makes us heirs of God's promises, transforming our identity and purpose. The Gospel of Luke illustrates this divine plan in action. The shepherds, upon encountering the newborn Jesus, glorify God, embodying the immediate and joyful response to His presence. Mary, in her contemplative heart, ponders the significance of the event, modeling a life of faith and reflection. As we celebrate Jesus' birth and circumcision, we are reminded to trust in God's plan and live as His beloved children, heirs to His eternal inheritance. Let us, like Mary and the shepherds, embrace the gift of faith, trusting in God's providence and living with hearts open to His grace.