"World Day of Peace" Refers to two major annual events:

on September 21st, The International Day of Peace, established by the UN.

And the Catholic Church's World Day of Peace on January Is.

Both days call for strengthening peace ideals, to promote global non-violence and ceasefires.

 

World Day of Peace

 ＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

Numbers 6:22-27

Then Yahweh spoke to Moses saying,

"Speak to Aaron and his sons and say to them: This is how you shall bless the people of Israel;

you shall say: May Yahweh bless you and keep you! May Yahweh let his face shine on you, and be gracious to you!

May Yahweh look kindly on you, and give you his peace!

In that way shall they put my name on the people of Israel and I will bless them."

 

Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8 (2a)

May God bless us in his mercy

 

＊＊＊ 2nd Reading ＊＊＊

Galatians 4:4-7

But when the fullness of time came, God sent his Son.

He came, born of woman, and subject to the law, in order to redeem the subjects of the law,

that we might receive adoption, as children of God. And because you are children,

God has sent into your hearts, the spirit of his Son, who cries out: Abba!

That is, Father! You, yourself, are no longer a slave, but a son or daughter,

and yours is the inheritance, by God's grace.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 2:16-21

So they came hurriedly, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.

On seeing him, they related what they had been told about the child;

and all were astonished on hearing the shepherds.

 

As for Mary, she treasured all these words, and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds then returned, giving glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen,

just as the angels had told them. On the eighth day, the circumcision of the baby had to be performed;

he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

We also bear Jesus in our hearts.

The Gospel reminds us how Mary treasured and pondered everything in her heart.

This also provides a way for us to live as each day of the year unfolds.

As we begin a new year, we hopefully have cleared away the clutter and toxins in our hearts,

preparing them to be filled with the incredible blessings and surprises that God has in store for us.

 

Like Mary, let's learn to pause each day and reflect on our blessings and the areas that need change.

Just as Mary, the Mother of God, bore Jesus in her womb, we also bear Jesus in our hearts.

Our mission as disciples of Christ is to maintain a close relationship with Him

by treasuring Him in our hearts and bearing witness to His grace through our ways of living and loving.