Daily Readings - Sat Jan 01 2022
Numbers
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
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
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 journey through the narrative of God’s blessings and redemption, culminating in the birth of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Numbers presents the priestly blessing, a sacred ritual where Aaron and his sons invoke God’s favor upon the Israelites. This blessing, still cherished today, symbolizes God’s enduring desire to bestow peace and protection upon His people. The context of this passage is rooted in the Levitical laws, highlighting God’s presence and care for His chosen people.
The second reading from Galatians shifts our focus to the New Testament, where Paul explains the profound implications of Jesus’ birth. Jesus, born under the law, redeems humanity, enabling us to become children of God. This adoption grants us the Spirit, who cries out to God as our loving Father, transforming us from servants to heirs. The context here is Paul addressing Gentile converts, emphasizing their inclusion in God’s family through faith in Christ.
The Gospel from Luke vividly portrays the shepherds’ visit to the newborn Jesus, Mary’s contemplation, and the naming of Jesus. This scene, part of the Nativity story, underscores the fulfillment of prophecy and the arrival of the Messiah. The readings interconnect, showing the progression from the Old Testament blessing to its fulfillment in Christ, who brings ultimate redemption and adoption into God’s family.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace our identity as children of God. We are blessed in Christ and called to live with the peace and grace He offers. Like Mary, we are encouraged to reflect on our spiritual experiences, allowing them to deepen our faith. The moral lesson here is recognizing our adoption as God’s children, living with the confidence of our inheritance, and sharing this blessing with others. May we trust in God’s plan and embody the love and peace of Christ in our lives.