Aaron's Blessing and the Mary Mother of God Feast

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Christmas Season:   Mary Mother of God : January 1st*

*Gospel :  Luke 2:16-21*

*First Reading : Numbers 6:22-27*

*Responsorial Psalm : 67: 2-8*

*Second Reading : Gal 4:4-7*

*Aaron's Blessing and the Mary Mother of God Feast*

*1) The Aaron's Blessing: God Turning His Face Toward His People*

The Aaron's Blessing is one of the oldest prayers of Israel. At its heart are three movements:

A) Blessing and protection

B) God’s face shining with grace

C) Peace (shalom)

Most importantly, it ends with God saying that His Name will be placed upon the people, and He Himself will bless them.

This blessing expresses Israel’s deepest hope: that God would dwell near, look upon His people with favor, and bring lasting peace.

*2) Mary, Mother of God: The Blessing Takes Flesh*

Mary is called Mother of God because the child she bore is truly God incarnate (Luke 1:43; John 1:14). This title is not primarily about Mary—it is about who Jesus is.

Here is the key connection:

What the Aaron's Blessing promised, Mary makes possible in history.

*God’s face shines* → Christ is the visible face of the invisible God

*God’s grace is given* → Grace enters the world through the Incarnation

*God gives peace* → Christ is our peace (cf. Eph 2:14)

Through Mary’s “yes,” the abstract blessing becomes a living person.

*3) “The Lord Make His Face Shine Upon You”*

In the Old Testament, seeing God’s face directly was impossible. Yet the blessing dares to ask for it.

In Mary:

God’s face becomes human

God can now be seen, touched, and encountered

The blessing is no longer only spoken—it is born

Mary literally looked into the face that the priestly blessing prayed for.

The shining face of God is now the face of Christ, first seen by Mary.

*4) Mary as the First Receiver and Bearer of the Blessing*

Mary is:

Blessed among women (Luke 1:42)

The first to receive Christ not only spiritually but physically

The first to carry God’s blessing into the world

She does not keep the blessing for herself:

She brings it to Elizabeth

She brings it to Bethlehem

She brings it to the world

Mary shows us that God’s blessing is meant to be received humbly and shared generously.

*5) Peace (Shalom) and Mary’s Motherhood*

The Aaron's Blessing ends with peace, which in biblical terms means: Wholeness, Harmony with God, Life as it was meant to be

Mary gives birth to the Prince of Peace.

Her motherhood introduces into the world the One who restores broken relationships—between God and humanity.

The Church is quietly teaching us: The new year begins not with human plans, but with God’s blessing made flesh. And with Mary, who teaches us how to receive it

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*