Peace

Today is the Octave Day of Christmas and the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.  Our first reading provides a familiar blessing: 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."  (Numbers 6: 22-27)

We all ask for this blessing on the first day of 2020.  But first, we must invoke God’s name upon those around us.  But what is God’s name?

We Christians say Jesus Christ, of course.  Consider our second reading from Galatians (4:4-7): “… 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…”   

Jesus ransomed and so should we.  We ransom those around us when we forgive them.  When we do, we merit a blessing.  The LORD’s face shines upon us.  We are given peace.

Peace to all throughout 2020!

Deacon David Pierce