The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Readings and Gospel

Lectionary for this day - This has all the readings and Gospel

The Octave Day of Christmas Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Numbers 6:22-27 - The Priestly Blessing

(Letter of St Paul to the) Galatians 4:4-7 - God’s Free Children in Christ

Luke 2:16-21 - The Visit of the Shepherds; and The Circumcision and Naming of Jesus

Who / What / Where is...?

Numbers

• The Book of Numbers derives its name from the account of the two censuses taken of the Hebrew people, one near the beginning and the other toward the end of the journey in the wilderness. It continues the story of that journey begun in Exodus and describes briefly the experiences of the Israelites for a period of thirty-eight years, from the end of their encampment at Sinai to their arrival at the border of the promised land.

• More information here.

Aaron

• A prophet, a high priest, the elder brother of Moses, and a younger brother of Miriam.

• Was the spokesman of Moses when Moses confronted the Egyptian Pharoah.

Galatians

• People of Galatia

• The Galatians to whom the letter is addressed were Paul’s converts, most likely among the descendants of Celts who had invaded western and central Asia Minor in the third century B.C. and had settled in the territory around Ancyra (modern Ankara, Turkey). 

• More information about the letter of St Paul to the Galatians

Luke

• He was a physician. He was a disciple of St Paul.

• He wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts (or Acts of the Apostles).

• Short video about St Luke (2 minutes 21 seconds)

Dig deeper into this Sunday's Readings and Gospel with teachings from Brant Pitre.

Saints