This blog begins 2010 by continuing to reflect on the daily bible readings of the Catholic Church

Reading 1, Numbers 6:22-27

"May God make his face shine on you"

22 The Lord spoke to Moses and said,

23 ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons and say: “This is how you must bless the Israelites. You will say:

24 May the Lord bless you and keep you.

25 May the Lord let his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

26 May the Lord show you his face and bring you peace.”

27 This is how they must call down my name on the Israelites, and then I shall bless them.’

Reading 2, Galatians 4:4-7

4 but when the completion of the time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law,
5 to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons.

6 As you are sons, God has sent into our hearts the Spirit of his Son crying, ‘Abba, Father’;7 and so you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir, by God’s own act.

These are very suitable texts for New Year’s Day.

The first is an ancient Jewish blessing which could be used by any believer in One God. We use this blessing in our church as a baptismal blessing, as well as on other occasions (I use it for blessing the sick). Blessing is the goodwill of God expressed in Hebrew by the root “brk”, which is well-known today in the first name of the president of the USA. The Aaronic blessing expands the basic concept, with the image of God’s face. To see anyone’s face is an intimate experience involving either friendship or love. Such an intimacy granted by a monarch would be a great privilege. Granted by God, it is an immense privilege, yet it is made to sound easy and natural in the words that depict God’s smile (his face shining), but still ceremonious (God literally “lifts up his face”) as he grants “shalom” (welcome, well-being, peace).

The beautiful thing about the blessing is that I can only receive it from my neighbour and he/she can only receive it from me. We need each other. The custom of mutual blessing could be an important way of creating peace in our streets, communities and nations. The Moslem habit of blessing holy people of the past or present (blessed be he) is also excellent. It is always good that I should ask my neighbour to put me in the place of God’s goodness.

The second passage is fundamentally Christian. It tells me who I am. Through the witness of God’s human child, Jesus of Nazareth, I am invited, no, more than that, I am commanded, to call God by Jesus’ Aramaic word, “Abba” = “Dear Father.” I am a child of God: this is my deepest identity, my destiny, my calling. Every day I should remind myself of this incomparable fact, but especially today at the start of the year. It is specifically Christian, it comes from Jesus Christ, but it is for that very reason, open to all people, of all places and times.