The beautiful blessing from Numbers is how God wished to be known to people: a source of blessing, peace, and grace, as well as someone who could be known and loved. If only we could keep this blessing in our minds and hearts! We might be less fearful of God and more inclined to view God as a friend.

This blessing takes on physical form in the person of Jesus. Through him, God's face does shine upon us, we are truly blessed and we find our peace. Jesus is the compassion and love of God made present to us - a living blessing. Mary's key role in this blessing was made possible by her own trust in God's compassionate mercy and her willingness to be an instrument. When Jesus is given His name - Yeshua - it signifies who He is, for it means "God saves".

As we begin the New Year, perhaps we can resolve to believe in our hearts that God in Jesus the Christ is a blessing, not a source of shame or fear, and that in him we will truly find peace. Our faith should not be a source of condemnation or fear for us, or a weapon to be used against others. We pray for the grace to live as if we have truly received that blessing and to allow our peace to be a source of peace for the world.