Happy and Blessed New Year, Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God and 8th Day of Christmas!

The LORD said to Moses:
“Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them:
This is how you shall bless the Israelites.
Say to them:
The LORD bless you and keep you!
The LORD let his face shine upon
you, and be gracious to you!
The LORD look upon you kindly and
give you peace!
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites,
and I will bless them.”

GospelLK 2:16-21

The shepherds went in haste to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph,
and the infant lying in the manger.
When they saw this, they made known the message
that had been told them about this child.
All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.
And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.
Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God
for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

When eight days were completed for his circumcision,
he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel
before he was conceived in the womb.

Just a note on the Gospel; it says when 8 days were completed…

More then likely the Holy Family did not travel to Jerusalem when Jesus was 8 days old for His circumcision.  It more then likely happened in Bethlehem, either at the Synagogue or the Rabbi coming to the home.

The traveling to Jerusalem and presentation in the Temple happened 40 days after birth, which is Feb. 2.

The Blessing in the 1st reading always reminds me of my dad.  He would give this blessing when ending the conversation with a sibling on the phone or me when I was in college.