Wednesday, January 01, 2020

God lovingly reaches out, comes to us. We should joyfully, thoughtfully, receive and serve Him. (Readings for January 1, 2020, Lectionary 18)

Key:
What these readings tell us about God
What these readings tell us to do
Hyperlinks to additional resources

Reading 1: Numbers 6:22-27  
The LORD said to Moses: “Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them:

The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!

So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them."

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 
R. May God bless us in his mercy.
May God have pity on us and bless us; may he let his face shine upon us.
So 
may your way be known upon earth; among all nations, your salvation.
R. 
May God bless us in his mercy.
May the nations 
be glad and exult because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide.
R. 
May God bless us in his mercy.
May the peoples 
praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us, and may 
all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. 
May God bless us in his mercy.

Reading 2:Galatians 4:4-7  
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. As proof that you are sonsGod sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then also an heir, through God.

Alleluia: Hebrews 1:1-2  
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days,he has spoken to us through the Son.
R. 
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 2:16-21
The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. 

And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart

Then the shepherds returnedglorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them. 

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.


What these readings tell us about God:
The LORD bless you
keep you
his face shine upon you
be gracious to you
look upon you kindly
give you peace
I will bless them
his mercy
have pity on us
bless us
let his face shine upon us
may your way be known upon earth
his mercy
you rule the peoples in equity
you guide
his mercy
bless us
all the ends of the earth fear him
God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law
we might receive adoption as sons
you are sons
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
you are no longer a slave but a son
spoke to our ancestors through the prophets
he has spoken to us through the Son.

What these readings tell us to do:
invoke my name 
your way be known upon earth
be glad 
exult because you rule the peoples in equity
praise you
praise you
all the ends of the earth fear him
receive adoption as sons
went in haste
they made known the message that had been told them about this child
kept all these things
reflecting on them in her heart
the shepherds returned
glorifying and praising God 

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