Daily Readings - Wed Jan 01 2025
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 guide us through a journey of blessings, redemption, and the manifestation of God's love. The first reading from Numbers presents the priestly blessing, a sacred prayer that invokes God's favor and peace upon His people. This blessing, still cherished today, reflects the deep desire for God's presence and protection in our lives. The second reading from Galatians reveals the profound mystery of our redemption through Jesus Christ, who was born of a woman and lived under the law to set us free. Through Him, we are adopted as sons of God, receiving the Spirit who cries out "Abba, Father," signifying our intimate relationship with God. The Gospel from Luke recounts the visit of the shepherds to the manger, where they found the infant Jesus lying in humility. Mary, in her contemplative heart, pondered the wonder of these events, while the shepherds returned glorifying God for all they had seen and heard.
These readings are deeply interconnected, as they all point to the fulfillment of God's promises and the revelation of His love. The priestly blessing in Numbers finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, who is the source of all blessings and peace. The redemption spoken of in Galatians is made visible in the birth of Jesus, who came to redeem us and make us sons and daughters of God. The shepherds' visit in Luke's Gospel illustrates the joy and amazement that come from encountering the living God, while Mary's reflective heart models for us the importance of contemplating God's work in our lives.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves how we might open our hearts to the blessings of God, receive the Spirit of His Son, and live as true children of God. May we, like the shepherds, glorify and praise God for the wonders He has done in our lives. And may we, like Mary, ponder the words and works of God, allowing them to transform us and deepen our faith. In doing so, we will come to know more fully the peace and love that only God can give, and we will live as heirs of His promise, now and forever.