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~~~

Keeping Rich the Soil

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne,

Parents of Blessed Virgin Mary

~~~ Exodus 20:1-17 ~~~ Psalm 19 ~~~ Matthew 13:18-23 ~~~

 

I have long believed that Mary's parents should be honored

for the way they taught their daughter, Mary.

They must have had tremendous faith themselves.

Just consider the simplicity of Mary's willingness to hear the message from God.

She was encouraged by her parents to listen to God.

She was taught the scriptures; evident in the text of her Magnificat.

 

On July 24 from Brazil, Pope Francis said...

The values they (the youth) need to see and learn are

"spirituality, generosity, solidarity, perseverance,

fraternity and joy."

 

The essence of joy must have been present in Mary's family life.

 

“Honor your father and your mother,
that you may have a long life in the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you.

We recognize how faithfully Mary kept this commandment

as we all honor her parents today.

Mary is living in the land which the Lord gave to her...

She is in heaven along with her beloved Son.

 

 

But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

Mary grew to be a model woman of grace;

due in part because of her parents.

 

Joachim and Anne heard the word.

They not only heard the words,

but they took those words into the rich soil of their hearts.

 

They heard and understood the inspired words of the prophets.

Their love for Mary bore more than just fruit...

for she bore our Lord Jesus Christ.

Mary bore the Messiah and Savior.

I would say the yield continues to be beyond

 all numerical computations.

 

Harvesting the rewards of hearing the word of God

cannot be limited

by our physical environment.

 

That seed which falls on rich soil has everlasting benefits.

The blessings of heart rich soil are immeasurable.

 

I invite you to make the time to daily read scripture.

Let the words speak to where you are this day.

Scripture creates the best environment for keeping the soil rich.

Just as a newly wed couple runs through a shower of bird seeds,

so too the words of scripture shower within your soul.

 

The blessings of heart rich soil are immeasurable.