Sunday, December 27, 2015

The announcement of Jesus’ birth to the Shepherds



January 1, 2016

The Octave Day of Christmas

Reading 1

22The 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: 24The LORD bless you and keep you! 25The LORD let His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you![1] 26The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace![2] 27So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

Responsorial Psalm

R. (2a) May God bless us in His mercy.

2May God have pity on us and bless us; may He let His face shine upon us. 3So may Your way be known upon earth; among all nations, Your salvation.

R. May God bless us in His mercy.

5May 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.

6May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You! 8May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth fear Him!

R. May God bless us in His mercy.

Reading 2

4Brothers and sisters: When the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son,
born of a woman, born under the law, 5to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

6As proof that you are sons, God sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”[3] 7So 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.

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

Gospel 

16The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. 17When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this Child. 18All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

19And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart. 20Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.[4]

21When 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.[5]




Notes on Readings:


[1] Number 6:25 - Let his face shine: a Hebrew idiom for "smile."

[2] Number 6:26 - Peace: the Hebrew word includes the idea of "prosperity, happiness."

[3] Galatians 4:6 - Children: see the footnote on Galatians 3:26; here in contrast to the infant or young person not of age (Galatians 3:1,3). Abba: compare with Mark 14:36 and the footnote; Romans 8:15.

[4] Luke 2:8-20 - The announcement of Jesus' birth to the shepherds is in keeping with Luke's theme that the lowly are singled out as the recipients of God's favors and blessings (see also (Luke 1:48, 52).

[5] Luke 2:21 - Just as John before him had been incorporated into the people of Israel through His circumcision, so too this Child (see the note on (see the footnote on Luke 1:57-66). 

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Dear Humanity,

I personally encourage everyone to emulate JESUS' values on LOVE, FAITH, HOPE
and CHARITY, as the humanity has been a failure; which resulted to the more than two (2) years of pandemic and its after-effects on economy, not only here in the Philippines but worldwide.

And the saddest part of it, is that, it affected the POOREST of the POOR to even extremely be more poorer, in exchange of the affluent to be more richer.

Thank you and may GOD bless you and the whole family to have an enjoyed life's journey at home, Church, schools/universities, corporate commitments, public and places of interest.