Luke 2:16-21

Numbers 6:22-27

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

Galatians 4:4-7

Luke 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.

Opening Prayer: Mary, I venerate you today as the Mother of God. You said “Yes” to God every moment of your life. I want to say “Yes” to God as you did. Help me and guide me with your maternal care today.

Encountering the Word of God

1. Incorporation into Israel: The Gospel of Luke tells us that, on the eighth day, the baby Jesus was circumcised. This was to fulfill the Law of Moses. Circumcision was a covenant sign of being incorporated into the people of Israel. It was originally a penitential sign for Abraham, who tried on his own to advance God’s promise of numerous descendants by having relations with his wife’s servant, Hagar. In response, God invited Abraham to be blameless (Genesis 17:1) and commanded that he be circumcised (Genesis 17:11). Later this sign was commanded by Moses as the rite of initiation into the family of Israel (Leviticus 12:3). As a sign, physical circumcision points to something else, to a deeper reality – the need for us to spiritually circumcise the heart by consecrating it to God and cutting away its rebellious inclinations (Leviticus 26:41; Deuteronomy 10:16). “God circumcises the hearts of believers in Baptism (Colossians 2:11-12), just as he promised Moses he would do in the time of restoration (Deuteronomy 30:6). As a result, this spiritual procedure makes the literal procedure unnecessary and outdated in the new economy of grace (1 Corinthians 7:19; Galatians 6:15; Philippians 3:3)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 260).

2. Born to Ransom Those Under the Law: Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, our Second Reading today, is a spirited defense of the Gospel he has been preaching throughout Asia Minor. The letter was a response to those who spread a different Gospel among those living in Galatia. In short, those who preached a false gospel – called Judaizers – “labored to bring the Galatians under the yoke of circumcision and other burdensome laws of the Old Covenant (Galatians 6:12-13). In doing so, they promoted a false gospel that implicitly denied the sufficiency of Christ’s death for our salvation (Galatians 2:21)” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 331). What Paul preaches is that God sent his Son, born of Mary, to redeem us. Jesus was born 
“under the law,” and we see in the Gospel how the Holy Family was obedient to this law. Jesus accomplished our redemption – our release from sin, the “works of the law,” and the curses of the Old Covenant – by his sacrificial death and the shedding of his blood on the Cross: “The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, however, marks a turning point in covenant history where circumcision is now set aside, along with the entire body of liturgical and ceremonial legislation promulgated by Moses. Through his Cross, Christ has redeemed us from the curses of the Old Covenant (Galatians 3:13) and unleashed the blessings of the New Covenant in a powerful way” (Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament, 330).

3. Reborn through Baptism: When we embrace Christ in faith (Galatians 3:7) and receive Baptism (3:27), we become spiritual descendants of Abraham and adopted children of God (Galatians 4:1-7). Baptism is the sacrament of faith and the rite of initiation that replaces circumcision (Colossians 2:11-12). We are incorporated through Baptism into the Body of Christ. We are reborn as children of God through the waters. Through the waters of Baptism, our sins are washed away, and divine grace is poured out in our hearts to transform us into new creations. 

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, you made the womb of Mary your holy dwelling place. You lovingly sanctified her and guided her along the path of holiness. Dwell in me today and sanctify my soul with your grace so that I may bring your merciful love to those around me.

Living the Word of God: How can I honor and venerate Mary as my mother this upcoming year? What virtues of Mary – humility, generosity, service, charity – do I need to imitate the most?