Daily Readings for January 1, 2016

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God

1ST READING

As we begin the year, let us call upon the intercession of Mary, the Mother of God. Let us ask her to pray that we grow in relationship with Jesus. This should be our goal this year. If we are not growing in our faith in Christ there must be something wrong and we need to address what it is that obstructs our journey.

Numbers 6:22-27

22 The Lord said to Moses: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24 The Lord bless you and keep you! 25 The Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! 26 The Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace! 27 So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

P S A L M

Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R: May God bless us in his mercy.

1 [2] May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us. 2 [3] So may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation. (R) 4 [5] May the nations be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity; the nations on the earth you guide. (R)  5 [6] May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you! 7[8] May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear him! (R)

2ND READING

Jesus was born at a time when the Law was on the rise. The Pharisees were the keepers of all things religious. The Gospel that Jesus proclaims gives us a different emphasis — that of relationships, not the law. This is why the relationships we see in the Scriptures, particularly those in the New Testament, are important to understanding the Gospel. Reflect on how Jesus honors His parents and then ask yourself, “Have I truly honored my parents?”

Galatians 4: 4-7

4 Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

GOSPEL

Mary is a woman of reflection. Her example reminds us that in order to make sense of the events in our lives, and if we want to truly understand what the Spirit is saying to us through them, we need to give ourselves space to reflect regularly and diligently. Socrates, the Greek philosopher, also reminds us of this when he wrote that the unreflected or unexamined life is not worth living.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.

Luke 2:16-21

16 The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. 18 All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. 19 And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. 20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. 21 When eight days were completed for his circumcision, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

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