Daily Readings - Sun Jan 01 2023
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
The readings today invite us to reflect on the profound blessings and gifts that God has bestowed upon us. In the first reading from Numbers, we hear the beautiful priestly blessing that God instructed Moses to share with the people of Israel. This blessing is not just a ritualistic phrase but a heartfelt prayer for God’s favor, mercy, and peace. It reminds us that God’s presence is always with us, offering protection and grace. The context of this passage is rooted in the ancient Israelites’ deep desire to experience God’s closeness, and it serves as a reminder that we, too, can seek and find God’s blessing in our lives.
The second reading from Galatians shifts our focus to the ultimate blessing of salvation through Jesus Christ. St. Paul explains that in the fullness of time, God sent His Son to redeem us, making us adopted children of God. This adoption is not just a legal status but a deeply personal relationship, as the Spirit of God dwells within us, enabling us to call God “Abba, Father.” The context here is Paul’s emphasis on the transformative power of grace, which frees us from the constraints of the law and invites us to live as heirs of God’s kingdom. This reading beautifully connects to the first, as it reveals that the ultimate blessing of God is not just His presence but His intimate relationship with us through Christ.
The Gospel from Luke brings us to the scene of the shepherds visiting the newborn Jesus. After hearing the angelic announcement, they hasten to find Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus lying in a manger. The shepherds’ response—glorifying and praising God—is a model for us. Mary, on the other hand, ponders these events in her heart, showing us the value of reflection and gratitude. The context of this passage is the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Savior, and it ties together the themes of blessing, adoption, and divine presence. Just as the shepherds and Mary responded to God’s gift with faith and wonder, we are called to do the same in our daily lives.
In our daily lives, these readings encourage us to recognize the blessings of God, embrace our identity as beloved children of God, and respond with gratitude and praise. Just as the shepherds and Mary pondered the mystery of God’s love, we too can take time to reflect on how God is present in our lives. Let us ask for the grace to live with the confidence of being adopted sons and daughters of God, and may we, like the shepherds, glorify and praise God for the gifts He has given us. Ultimately, these readings remind us that the greatest blessing we have received is Jesus Christ, who brings us peace, mercy, and the assurance of God’s eternal love.