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(Nm.6:22-27;\xa0\xa0 Ps.67:2-3,5-6,8;\xa0\xa0 Gal.4:4-7;\xa0\xa0 Lk.2:16-21) \xa0 \u201cThe shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.\u201d \xa0 The blessing of God, His holy Son, was upon the shepherds, and it is upon us all.\xa0 For \u201cGod sent His Son, born of a woman\u201d that His \u201cway be known upon earth,\u201d \u201cthat we might receive adoption as sons.\u201d\xa0 And what greater blessing could man know than to fulfill his call as son of the living God? We are blessed, brothers and sisters, and we should proclaim it as the shepherds.\xa0 The blessing invoked upon the people by Aaron has been realized in the birth of the Son.\xa0 Through Him \u201cthe Lord let[s] His face shine upon [us]\u201d \u2013 this is His grace come.\xa0 And how else but in haste should we travel to Him?\xa0 How quickly we should arrive at His side.\xa0 And how amazed all should be upon hearing the blessings we have known, at the hand of our God. Mary is she who is truly blessed, and we honor especially today she \u201cwho kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.\u201d\xa0 For so obedient was she to God\u2019s will that He was \u201cconceived in [her] womb\u201d and made flesh in our sight.\xa0 So, let us thank her today for the blessing she has brought into our midst.\xa0 As we are now sons of the Father with the Spirit of the Son \u201ccrying out, \u2018Abba, Father!\u2019\u201d in our hearts, so we are sons of Mary, too, for the Lord\u2019s divinity cannot be separated from His humanity \u2013 the two meet as one in Jesus Christ.\xa0 This is our great blessing. From \u201can infant lying in the manger\u201d shall come the salvation of our race, and the Mother of this renewed race, consecrated to God in Him who is \u201cnamed Jesus,\u201d we commemorate with our hearts and our voices in praise this holy day.\xa0 May she now be the instrument by which \u201cthe Lord bless[es]\u201d and \u201ckeep[s]\u201d us; may she pray this day that \u201cHis face shine upon [us].\u201d\xa0 And may all her children be one in the blessing of Christ, her Son.\xa0 Amen. \xa0 Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. \xa0Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. \xa0 ******* O LORD, what blessing is upon us this Christmas day!\xa0 YHWH, we are your sons now because Jesus has become our Brother.\xa0 Born of the Virgin, His blessing is now upon our race \u2013 He it is who shines the light of your face.\xa0 Let us glorify you for your blessing. Now we may call you \u201cFather!\u201d now that the Spirit of your Son is with us.\xa0 For in Him we are adopted as your sons, LORD, and so through Him you are our Father.\xa0 Let the light of your face shine upon us all our days. It is you who rule all nations, LORD; all the earth is in your hands.\xa0 Yet you come to us as a little child, poor and lying in a humble manger.\xa0 Let us ponder this wonder with Mary; let us keep your will and your Word ever in our hearts, that we might see unfold the revelation of your presence among us. Too wonderful for us is the grace you bring, LORD; yet let us live as your sons, born of the Blessed Virgin Mary.