Daily Readings - Fri Jan 01 2021
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
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.