NÚMEROS 6, 22-27
The Lord spoke to Moses: Tell Aaron and his sons: This is the formula with which you shall bless the Israelites:
The Lord bless you and keep you;
may his face shine upon you
and be gracious to you.
The Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.
So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them.
This is a precious and very ancient text. It is found in the Book of Numbers, but it is a traditional heritage and very dear to the people of Israel. It is a text of blessing, recited in prayer from generation to generation.
Perhaps we could dare to update its translation in this way:
May the Lord bless us and keep us,
may he make us feel his presence
and grant us peace.
GÁLATAS 4, 4-7
When the fullness of time had 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 you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Paul, in his letter to the Galatians, summarizes a basic point of his doctrine. The Word, born in Israel, has reached its fullness in Jesus, and has broken all molds. It has been announced to the whole world, to Jews and Gentiles, to free people and slaves, and has shown us who we are: not mere law-keepers, but sons and heirs. This is the synthesis and essence of the Christmas message.
José Enrique Galarreta, S.J.