Daily Readings - Mon Jan 01 2018

First Reading - Numbers 6.22-27

²²And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,²³Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them,²⁴The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:²⁵The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:²⁶The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.²⁷And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Second Reading - Galatians 4.4-7

Galatians

Chapter 4

⁴But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,⁵To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.⁷Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Gospel - Luke 2.16-21

Luke

Chapter 2

¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.²¹And when eight days were accomplished for the circumcising of the child, his name was called JESUS, which was so named of 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.