Daily Readings - Wed Jan 01 2025
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 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.