The Octave Day of Christmas
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
Lectionary: 18
1 JAN 2023 A.D.


Reading I
Nm 6:22-27

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.”


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8

R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation.
R. May God bless us in his mercy.

May 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.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him!
R. May God bless us in his mercy.


Reading II
Gal 4:4-7

Brothers and sisters:
When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son,  
born of a woman, born under the law,  
to ransom those under the law,  
so that we might receive adoption as sons.
As proof that you are sons,  
God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,  
crying out, “Abba, Father!”
So you are no longer a slave but a son,  
and if a son then also an heir, through God.


Alleluia
Heb 1:1-2

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


Gospel
Lk 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,  
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this,  
they made known the message  
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed  
by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things,  
reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned,  
glorifying and praising God  
for all they had heard and seen,  
just as it had been told to them.  

When 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.



Overview of the Gospel:

• In the fourth century A.D., the heretical bishop Nestorius denied Mary could be called
Theotokos (“God-bearer”), or, Mother of God. He thought it blurred the distinction between
Jesus’ divine and human natures. The Council of Ephesus in A.D. 431 condemned Nestorius
and affirmed Mary as Mother of God.

• Like all Marian dogmas, Mary’s title of Mother of God says more about Jesus that it does
about Mary. It affirms the fact that Jesus is fully God, yet fully man (see CCC 464-483).

• This Monday’s Gospel reading is a continuation of last Sunday’s for midnight Mass (Luke 2:1-
14). The shepherds, upon hearing the angels’ message, rush to Bethlehem and tell Mary and
Joseph (verse 17)—and whoever else will listen (verses 18, 20)—what they have seen and
heard. This confirms that which was already announced beforehand in Luke 1:31-33, 46-55,
and 68-79.

• At eight days old, Jesus is circumcised and formally given the name which the angel had
revealed before his birth (Luke 1:31; Mark 1:21). Circumcision was the rite that incorporated
Jewish males into the people of Israel (Genesis 17:9-14; Luke 1:57-66), just as baptism
incorporates Christians into the new Israel, the Church (Colossians 2:11-12).
[courtesy of Vince Contreras: "Sunday Scripture Study for Catholics"]


"Mary was raised to the dignity of Mother of God rather for sinners than for the just, since Jesus Christ declares that he came to call not the just, but sinners." ~ St. Anselm

a reflection of mine over the years...

It is amazing, and yet totally reassuring, that God, the creator of creation, first revealed himself to the world in front of lowly working men and working women--the Shepherds.

...not the elite
...not billionaires
...not politicians
...not the powerful...

but HARD-WORKING FOLKS!



as said forthrightly by a Catholic King of his working fellows:

"We are but warriors for the working day; Our gayness and our gilt are all besmirch'd with rainy marching in the painful field; There's not a piece of feather in our host-- Good argument, I hope, we will not fly-- And time hath worn us into slovenry:

But, by the Mass, our hearts are in the trim."

Thanks!

Good hearing from you again, Brother, tortilla-flats!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BNA