The Catholic Calendar for Thursday, December 30, 2004
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 John 2:12-17
Psalm 96:7-10
Luke 2:36-40

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Anna gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem (see Luke 2:38)

John's first letter suggests that Christ's message can be heard and received by people of all ages; however, spiritual maturity is not achieved instantaneously, nor by everyone. God's living Word, Jesus Christ, through His Holy Spirit, weans us away from the things of this world, its sensual and visual enticements and pretentious living. Sincere desire for God and prayer gradually enable us to become imbued with the very virtues of God, His goodness and holiness revealed to us in Christ. We come to realize that all that we gain of this world is destined to pass away, but God's love and truth--that He plants within our souls--will bless others and us throughout eternity.

We see spiritual maturity at work in today's Gospel when the Holy Family presented the infant Jesus to God at the Temple in thanksgiving for gifting them with a son. While they knew He had been given to them in a highly unusual way for a purpose as yet unrealized, two righteous and devout people, Simeon and Anna, prophesied that Jesus was the “awaited“ one, the Messiah who would bring consolation and redemption to Israel; but this was to come amid suffering, for Him and His family.

Every age since Christ's coming has produced many faithless Christians, agnostics and outright atheists. Sadly these are victims of a self-imposed ignorance which deprives them of a peace, hope and joy that transcends anything this world can offer.

Glorious Savior,
may Your new and holy life that we welcomed at Christmas
flourish within us,
make us worthy to share Your resurrection on the last day.
Amen.

- Marie Bocko, OCDS
(mlbocko at earthlink dot net)

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posted by joachim at 6:20 AM