This is the Eighth Day of Christmas
Eucharistic Readings for Holy Name Day: January 1
Numbers 6:22-27; Psalm 8; Galatians 4:4-7; or Philippians 2:5-11; Luke 2:15-21
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you have set in their courses, What is man that you should be mindful of him? the son of man that you should seek him out?” (Psalm 8: 4 and 5)
There is no doubt in my mind that the goodness of God called creation into being. And, as the Psalmist considers, with the moon and the stars in their respective courses, God also caused humanity to also come into being. But then God became mindful of us, so much so that God actually walked among us as one of us! Yes, God sought us out.
This is further illustrated by the words of Paul as he teaches us that when our human creation part was ready, then, and only then, God joined us, Emanuel; God with us. Paul writes, “When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. (Galatians 4:4 and 5).
And of course, the technical details can be found in our Gospel passage from Luke in our reading for today. The over arching point I want to ponder is God’s interest and fascination with humanity. “What is man that you should be mindful of him?” We humans have such a divine opportunity through our Brother Jesus Christ to join God for eternity. It is now time for us to be mindful, that is, fascinated with, and thankful to, God. Merry Christmas: Day 8.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 