Daily Readings - Wed Jan 01 2025
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 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.