Mass Readings — 1 January 2026
Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God First Reading Numbers 6:22–27 — The Lord blesses his people and gives them peace. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 66(67):2–3, 5–6, 8 — A prayer for God’s mercy and blessing upon all nations. Second Reading Galatians 4:4–7 — Through Christ, we are adopted as sons and daughters, able to call God “Abba, Father”. Gospel Luke 2:16–21 — The shepherds find Mary, Joseph, and the child Jesus; Mary treasures these things in her heart, and Jesus is named. Reflection The year begins not with urgency, but with blessing . In the Gospel, the shepherds hurry to see what God has done — and then they return to ordinary life, praising God along the way. Mary, meanwhile, does not rush. She holds, remembers, and reflects. The Psalm echoes this quiet confidence: God blesses his people so that his ways may be known on earth. Not through noise or force, but through lives that carry his peace. As a new year begins, we are reminded that blessing comes before effort, and ...