Motely Messengers | January 1, 2016

January 1, 2016

Well, in typical Holy Spirit fashion, the overall theme for today’s readings is mercy, which is the prayer word that I have chosen for January, and duh; it’s the Jubilee Year of Mercy, so that has already choreographed a beautiful dance into the New Year. The thing that makes mercy so powerful is that we actually don’t deserve it, and that is why grace is required in order for us to have mercy on each other. Our human nature is attached to merit and earning things like respect, trust, honor, etc. Mercy steps outside of merit and has to be a free gift to the undeserved or else it is not mercy. We can only give that with the help of the Holy Spirit so, come, Holy Spirit because I want to be lavishly merciful this year especially, and hopefully the same lavish mercy will be given to me.

The blessing that God gives to Moses and Aaron in the first reading is a sweet way for us to begin anew:

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!

Psalm 67 gives us a chorus with which to cry out today:

May God bless us in his mercy.

The gospel from Luke reminds us that Christ came into our lives in an extraordinary but humble way. How telling that the first heralds of his coming were a motely crew of dirty rugged shepherds. God uses the unlikely to be his messengers and thank goodness because that means he can also use me in my unlikeliness. What must it have been like for Mary and Joseph to have a rough and tumble herd of dudes shuffle themselves into the rougher and tumbler manger area where their newborn baby was trying to get some sleep? No wonder Mary had to keep those things in her heart, she needed to process her son’s obvious magnetism and appeal to the lowly. I picture a modern day version of this scene as maybe an intimidating motorcycle gang or a gathering homeless people pouring into the Holy Family’s nursery to gaze upon their newborn son who happens to be the savior of the world. The scene is awkward and tender at the same time, surreal and slightly too real, scary but somehow comfortable, the extraordinary mingling with the ordinary, and the sweet paradox of the divine becoming poor begins.

The week between Christmas and New Years is one where we tend to ponder the happenings of this past year and today’s gospel connects our pondering hearts to Mary’s. It is good to reflect on where we have been and to look ahead to where we are going, but mostly to be in this present moment with the knowledge that we are exactly where we are meant to be. I’d love to write that I feel rich in this present moment, but I feel weary and a little lost and that is why today’s gospel permeates my being. Mary and Joseph must have felt the same, lost and weary, but as the community of shepherds rallied around them during their time of confusion and fright, they were able to put those treasures in their heart to be called upon at a later date when they would bring comfort, healing, clarity, or peace. That’s where I am right now; storing mysteries in my heart so that they can be clarified and refined by Christ dwelling alongside, and one day I will understand why I am being challenged.

As I write these things, my head tells me that it makes sense, but my heart still needs some time to process. Mary teaches us to wait, to be patient, and to let it be.

Happy New Year, my friends, may mercy and grace pour over you abundantly, passionately, and tenderly.  

The Octave Day of Christmas
Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God
Lectionary: 18

Reading 1 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. (2a) 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 2 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.