January 1, 2015

First Reading

The Book of Numbers   6: 22-27

6:22	And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
6:23	“Say to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the sons of Israel, and you shall say to them:
6:24	‘May the Lord bless you and keep you.
6:25	May the Lord reveal his face to you and take pity on you.
6:26	May the Lord turn his countenance toward you and grant peace to you.’
6:27	And they shall invoke my name over the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Second Reading

The Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians   4: 4-7

4:4	But when the fullness of time arrived, God sent his Son, formed from a woman, formed under the law,
4:5	so that he might redeem those who were under the law, in order that we might receive the adoption of sons.
4:6	Therefore, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying out: “Abba, Father.”
4:7	And so now he is not a servant, but a son. But if he is a son, then he is also an heir, through God.

Gospel

The Holy Gospel According to Luke    2: 16-21

2:16	And they went quickly. And they found Mary and Joseph; and the infant was lying in a manger.
2:17	Then, upon seeing this, they understood the word that had been spoken to them about this boy.
2:18	And all who heard it were amazed by this, and by those things which were told to them by the shepherds.
2:19	But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.
2:20	And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, just as it was told to them.
2:21	And after eight days were ended, so that the boy would be circumcised, his name was called JESUS, just as he was called by the Angel before he was conceived in the womb.