Blessings for 2015

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

 the Mother of God

~~~ Numbers 6:22-27 ~~~ Psalm 67 ~~~ Galatians 4:4-7 ~~~

~~~ Luke 2:16-21 ~~~

There is much for us to draw from in the Old Testament,

but none so beautiful as the words of blessing

we hear today in the reading from Numbers.

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.”

God spoke these words of blessing to Moses...

Moses spoke the words to Aaron...

Arron and his sons spoke the words to the Israelites.

Today these same words are spoken to us and for us.

Every year we hear these words as we begin another new year.

Every year these words touch our soul exactly where we are.

We all begin a new year with hopes and fears.

We hope that our life situation will be better.

We fear that nothing in our life will change just because

 the calendar rolled over to another date.

I invite you to treasure these words of blessing...

Write them down and keep them with you.

Save them in your phone.

Whenever you have the opportunity to pray for someone else

or even for yourself, these words of blessing can bring comfort.

Psalm 67 continues to echo these words 

of blessing for us.

May God bless us in his mercy.

May God have pity on us and bless us;

may he let his face shine upon us.

Mary is honored today as the Mother of God.

Mary birthed Jesus allowing all of us to experience

 his face shining upon us.

The shepherds came in haste to see the face of this child. 

They were changed forever.

 ...the shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all they had heard and seen, 

just as it had been told to them.

The Lord Bless you and Keep you 

in this new year of 2015.

~~~Peace~~~