The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to celebrate Jubilee Year 2025 with the heart of Mary open to share the Good News of Jesus with all people.
The reading from the Book of Numbers proclaims the Priestly Benediction.
* [6:26] Peace: the Hebrew word Shalom includes the idea of happiness, good health, prosperity, friendship, and general well-being. To use this term as a greeting was to pray for all these things upon the one greeted. (Numbers, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
In Psalm 67, the Nations are called to Praise God.
* [Psalm 67] A petition for a bountiful harvest (Ps 67:7), made in the awareness that Israel’s prosperity will persuade the nations to worship its God.
* [67:2] May God be gracious to us: the people’s petition echoes the blessing pronounced upon them by the priests, cf. Nm 6:22–27. (Psalms, PSALM 67 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter of Paul to the Galatians declares God’s Free Children in Christ.
* [4:1–7] What Paul has argued in Gal 3:26–29 is now elaborated in terms of the Christian as the heir (Gal 4:1, 7; cf. Gal 3:18, 29) freed from control by others. Again, as in Gal 3:2–5, the proof that Christians are children of God is the gift of the Spirit of Christ relating them intimately to God. (Galatians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Is Named.
* [2:21] Just as John before him had been incorporated into the people of Israel through his circumcision, so too this child (see note on Lk 1:57–66). (Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB, n.d.)
Andy Alexander, S.J. (2000) writes that many of us suffer from the economic injustices Pope John Paul II writes about. Many of us live in countries that are not at peace or where we are deprived of religious or political liberty. Most of us have far more than we need. Most of us are far from a sense of solidarity with others in need, that would make us agents of change for justice. There is a call, a consolation and a hope that is offered to us all today.
Mary places us with Jesus today, as really as she gave him to us so long ago. Today each of us can celebrate his name - Jesus - for he saves us all from our sins. Today, Jesus stands in solidarity with us, opening the way, opening wide the door to new graces and new peace. Today we resolve to let his forgiving love renew us and free us to share his love, generously. We pray, that as we cross the threshold into this Jubilee year (2025) that there might be greater reconciliation, justice and peace on this earth, and that it might begin in our hearts. Desiring this grace, can make for a very happy new year. (Alexander, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “By Christ's faith, hope, and love we are purified,” by Bede the Venerable, 672-735 A.D.
"He therefore received in the flesh the circumcision decreed by the law, although he appeared in the flesh absolutely without any blemish of pollution. He who came in the likeness of sinful flesh (Romans 8:3) - not in sinful flesh - did not turn away from the remedy by which sinful flesh was ordinarily made clean. Similarly, not because of necessity but for the sake of example, he also submitted to the water of baptism, by which he wanted the people of the new law of grace to be washed from the stain of sins...
"The reason 'the child who was born to us, the son who was given to us ' (Isaiah 9:6), received the name Jesus (that is, 'Savior') does not need explanation in order to be understood by us, but we need eager and vigilant zeal so that we too may be saved by sharing in his name. Indeed, we read how the angel interprets the name of Jesus: 'He will save his people from their sins' (Matthew 1:21). And without a doubt we believe and hope that the one who saves us from sins is not failing to save us also from the corruptions which happen because of sins, and from death itself, as the psalmist testifies when he says, 'Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases' (Psalm 103:3). Indeed, with the pardoning of all of our iniquities, all our diseases will be completely healed when, with the appearance of the glory of the resurrection, our last enemy, death, will be destroyed... We read that circumcision was done with knives made of rock (Joshua 5:2), and the rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4). And by Christ's faith, hope and love the hearts of the good are purified not only in baptism but furthermore in every devout action. This daily circumcision of ours (that is, the continual cleansing of our heart) does not cease from always celebrating the sacrament of the eighth day. (excerpt from HOMILIES ON THE GOSPELS 1.11) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Numbers 6:22-27 comments that Mary was specially graced, but those blessings didn’t stop with her. Look at how many people were blessed through her, starting in Bethlehem. When Mary saw a group of shepherds at the stable door wanting to see her baby, she welcomed them. They were complete strangers, but she saw that the blessing she had received in Jesus was meant to be shared. And that’s how she lived the rest of her life.
We have all known God’s protection and care. But those blessings, like Mary’s, are meant to spill over into the lives of everyone we meet. As we lend a helping hand or offer a welcoming smile, God’s goodness can touch the people around us. So at the start of this new year, let’s imitate our Blessed Mother and allow the Lord to bless others through us.
“Mary, our Mother, pray that we may know and share God’s blessings in the coming year!” (Meditation on Numbers 6:22-27, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the blessing given to Moses to teach his sons about the constant protection of Yahweh. In Galatians, Paul declares Jesus' birth by a woman under the Law tells us about “Abba” our heavenly parent. Friar Jude reminds us that , “Jesus saves”, is the proclamation of His mission to all people.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, expresses the liberation the gospel offers when freed from our cultural and religious expectations. Fr Richard believes that Jesus' truth about right relationship, His proclamation of the power of powerlessness, is the message that will save the world from self-destruction and for an eternal truth. This is how Jesus is the “Savior of the World.” He does it by choosing a minority position, entering Jerusalem on a donkey.
Jesus has a different understanding of personal freedom. Freedom is not the capacity to be what we are not, but the capacity to be fully who we already are, to develop our inherent selves as much as divine time and circumstances allow. The perfect and full freedom of a fig tree is to become a perfect and full fig tree. Thus, Jesus curses one that does not (see Matthew 21:19). Many of us are like sick or dead fig trees, but with happy faces painted on our anemic fruit shouting, “But I’m free!” Our addictive society will do what it wants to do, but the freedom offered by all great spiritual traditions is quite different: spiritual and true freedom is wanting to do what we have to do to become who we are. (Rohr, n.d.)
We begin Jubilee Year 2025 with a shalom blessing and an invitation to advocate for reconciliation, justice and peace as Mary presents Jeshua to the forgotten of her time.
References
Alexander, A. (n.d.). Creighton University Ministry and the Collaborative Ministry Office. Collaborative Ministry Office. https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/Archive/2000/010100.html
Galatians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/4?4
Luke, CHAPTER 2 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/2?16
Meditation on Numbers 6:22-27. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/01/01/1169844/
Numbers, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/numbers/6?22
Psalms, PSALM 67 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/67?2
Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Free Gospel and Free People. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-free-gospel-and-free-people/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Was Called Jesus. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved January 1, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=jan1
No comments:
Post a Comment