Daily Readings - Mon Jan 01 2024
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 journey through the revelation of God’s love and our response to it. The first reading from Numbers presents the Aaronic blessing, a priestly invocation of God’s protection, revelation, and peace upon the Israelites. This blessing, rooted in the Levitical priesthood, highlights God’s desire to be close to His people. The second reading from Galatians deepens this by explaining Jesus’ mission: born under the law to redeem us, making us sons and daughters of God through adoption. This intimate relationship is sealed by the Spirit, who calls out “Abba, Father” from our hearts. The Gospel from Luke illustrates this revelation in the visit of the shepherds to the newborn Jesus, with Mary pondering God’s word and the shepherds glorifying God.
These readings weave together the tapestry of God’s revelation. The Aaronic blessing prefigures the ultimate blessing in Jesus, who brings us into God’s family. Through Him, we are no longer servants but sons and heirs. The shepherds’ response of faith and praise exemplifies how we should receive God’s revelation with gratitude and joy.
In our daily lives, let us embrace our identity as beloved children of God. May we, like Mary, ponder God’s words in our hearts and, like the shepherds, glorify Him for the gifts we receive. Let us live with the peace and joy that come from knowing we are adopted into God’s family, reflecting His love in all we do.