Thursday, January 1

Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God – Year A

First Reading – Numbers 6:22-27

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron and his sons, Thus you shall bless the sons of Israel: you shall say to them, 

The Lord bless you and keep you: 

The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.

So shall they put my name upon the sons of Israel, and I will bless them.”

Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 

℟ May God bless us in his mercy.

Make his face to shine upon us, that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

℟ May God bless us in his mercy.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; Let all the peoples praise you!

℟ May God bless us in his mercy.

The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us.

℟ May God bless us in his mercy.

God has blessed us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

℟ May God bless us in his mercy.

Second Reading – Galatians 4:4-7

But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir.

Alleluia - Hebrews 1:1-2

℟ Alleluia!

In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; 

But in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the ages.

℟ Alleluia!

Gospel – Luke 2:16-21

And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. But Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press, Copyright ⓒ 2006.