Daily Readings - Mon Jan 01 2018
Numbers
22The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,23"Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,24The LORD bless you and keep you;25the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;26the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.27"So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them."
Galatians
4But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,5to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"7So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Luke
16And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.17And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.18And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.19But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.21And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given 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.