Daily Readings - Fri Jan 01 2021
Numbers
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.
Galatians
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.
Luke
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
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.