How to mark this day

The Roman Catholic Lectionary describes today as "The Octave Day of the Nativity of the Lord Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God ". We also universally mark the change from 2011 CE to 2012 CE. People use this transition to a new year to remember 2011, give thanks and seek better for 2012 through resolutions to change. The text from the Book of Numbers starts our "new year" with the ancient blessing on the Israelites from God through Aaron. The intimacy of knowing God "face to face", which in the Hebrew understanding is to risk annihilation in the Presence, is the relationship of Moses and through this blessed position one knows peace and is given the opportunity to live in the name or the essence of God. The Nativity we continue to celebrate today is the blessing of the relationship described by Paul to the Galatians as that of "children of God". The intimacy desired by God with us is that experienced when the indwelling Spirit calls out in resonance with the Spirit of God "Abba", the name which is heard as "Daddy" from the children who delight us in this Christmas season. The Word is made flesh in history through the "Yes" of the woman ( at age 13 or 14?) who as Paul describes and the Gospel of Luke confirms is observant of the Law of Moses and who in the face to face relationship of mother to son calls him Jesus, "Yahweh saves", as instructed. The first people to witness and proclaim this great blessing of children and heir intimacy with God are the marginalized, excluded and unclean of the time, shepherds who lived with animals and worked unseen by the mainline society. Our plans for 2012 include an invitation to seek greater intimacy with God through life in which we encounter Jesus in those who have witnessed His Love and Mercy as modern day "shepherds".