GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 1ST JANUARY 2017
SOLEMNITY – MARY, MOTHER OF GOD
FIRST READING: Numbers 6:22-27
PSALM: Psalm 67:2-3, 5,6,8
SECOND READING: Galatians 4:4-7
GOSPEL: Luke 2:16-21
THEME: MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU
Some few hours ago, the new year began with shouts of joy and screams of excitement. Many feel grateful to be alive to see this day. A new year, in the minds of many people, presupposes a new page and chapter. Consequently, some have made resolutions and others have drawn up plans for the year. However, we know too well from experience that the best of plans without the blessing of God is a waste of time and other resources. It is therefore proper that at the beginning of this new year, we turn to God and ask for his blessing.
In our First Reading, Aaron and his sons are instructed to bless the Israelites as follows: “May the LORD bless you and keep you; may the LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; may the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you shalom” (Num 6:24-25). The word “shalom” often translated as “peace” embodies happiness, good health, prosperity, friendship and general well-being. Therefore, Aaron’s prayer of blessing is an invocation of goodness in all its forms upon a person.
Two verses before the Gospel text for today, we read that in the fields where the shepherds were keeping watch, the angels of God sang a song of praise, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace for those he favours” (Lk. 2:14). God gives peace to those who find favour in his sight.
The “camera” shifts from the fields in the countryside to Bethlehem itself and settles on Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus lying in a manger. Having heard the report of the shepherds, the author writes, “Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Lk. 2:19). Connecting this to the song of praise of the angels, we can say that Mary’s heart must have been filled with immense peace for indeed she had found favour with God.
In the life of Mary, we see how the blessing of God makes a person blessed for all generations (cf. Lk. 1: 48). Although created by God, Mary became the vessel through which the creative Word, which is God, became flesh, thereby making her an instrument of God’s blessing to the whole of humanity.
At the beginning of this new year, God chooses to pronounce his blessing upon us. As the Lord spoke to Moses and by extension to Aaron and his sons to bless the sons of Israel, God desires that we too become instruments of his blessing to all his children.
On this first day of the new year, may our greetings and parting words be, “Shalom”. Let us speak words of peace to our husbands, wives, children, friends, enemies, employers, employees, parishioners etc. May today be a true day of blessing. As the priest blesses us at the end of the Mass, let us respond with deep faith, AMEN!
PRAYER: Lord God, you have blessed me in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places; may I in turn be a blessing to all those I meet today. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).