Daily Readings - Sat Jan 01 2022
Numbers
22The LORD said to Moses,23"Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:24"'"The LORD bless you and keep you;25the LORD make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;26the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace."'27"So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them."
Galatians
4But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law,5to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.6Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father."7So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.
Luke
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.21On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we journey through the narrative of God’s blessings and redemption, culminating in the birth of Jesus Christ. The first reading from Numbers presents the priestly blessing, a sacred ritual where Aaron and his sons invoke God’s favor upon the Israelites. This blessing, still cherished today, symbolizes God’s enduring desire to bestow peace and protection upon His people. The context of this passage is rooted in the Levitical laws, highlighting God’s presence and care for His chosen people.
The second reading from Galatians shifts our focus to the New Testament, where Paul explains the profound implications of Jesus’ birth. Jesus, born under the law, redeems humanity, enabling us to become children of God. This adoption grants us the Spirit, who cries out to God as our loving Father, transforming us from servants to heirs. The context here is Paul addressing Gentile converts, emphasizing their inclusion in God’s family through faith in Christ.
The Gospel from Luke vividly portrays the shepherds’ visit to the newborn Jesus, Mary’s contemplation, and the naming of Jesus. This scene, part of the Nativity story, underscores the fulfillment of prophecy and the arrival of the Messiah. The readings interconnect, showing the progression from the Old Testament blessing to its fulfillment in Christ, who brings ultimate redemption and adoption into God’s family.
In our daily lives, these readings invite us to embrace our identity as children of God. We are blessed in Christ and called to live with the peace and grace He offers. Like Mary, we are encouraged to reflect on our spiritual experiences, allowing them to deepen our faith. The moral lesson here is recognizing our adoption as God’s children, living with the confidence of our inheritance, and sharing this blessing with others. May we trust in God’s plan and embody the love and peace of Christ in our lives.