Day 5 (December 29) – Five Golden Rings
Theme: The Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
Opening Prayer
Gather as a family or individually. Light a white or gold candle.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
O God, who through the blessed Apostles revealed to us the sacred Scriptures,
grant us, we pray, a deeper love for Your holy Word contained in the books of the Law.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Scripture Reading
Read slowly and prayerfully:
Genesis 1:1–5, 31 (The Beginning of Creation)
“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth... And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”
Deuteronomy 6:4–9 (The Shema – Love of God in the Law)
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
Reflection
The fifth gift from our True Love (God) is five golden rings, symbolizing the Pentateuch or Torah – the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
- These "golden rings" are precious and enduring, like gold – forming the unbreakable foundation of God's revelation: creation, the covenants, the Exodus liberation, and the giving of the Law on Mount Sinai.
- They prepare the way for Christ, the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets (Matthew 5:17), showing God's faithful plan from the beginning.
Questions for Personal or Family Reflection
- How does reading about Creation in Genesis fill me with awe for God's power and goodness?
- The Law in the Pentateuch points to Christ. Where do I see Jesus foreshadowed in these books (e.g., the Passover lamb in Exodus)?
- In what area of my life do I need to better follow God's commandments as given through Moses?
Practical Activities for Catholics
- Engage with the Pentateuch
Open your Bible and read a short passage from one of the five books (e.g., the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20). Discuss as a family how it applies today. - Sing Together
Sing the first five verses of “The Twelve Days of Christmas”:
“On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me: Five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree.”
(Give extra flair to the "five golden rings"!) - Act of Charity
In gratitude for God's creative love, perform an act of stewardship: care for creation (e.g., recycle, plant something), or help someone in need, remembering God's care for His people in the Exodus. - Closing Prayer – Prayer for Day 5
O God, Creator of heaven and earth,
Thank You for the golden gift of the Pentateuch – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy – the foundation of Your holy Law and salvation story.
Help me to treasure these books as precious rings of truth, leading me ever closer to Your Son, Jesus Christ, who fulfills every promise and commandment.
Grant me wonder at Your creation and fidelity to Your covenants.
Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us.
Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May the golden truths of the Torah shine in your heart today!
Tomorrow: Six Geese A-Laying.