"Rewarded by catching sight of the Christ child."

It’s right to want the most joy possible in heaven.

“We are able to do what is truly good only because God caused us to be born again.”

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊     

1 John 2:12-17

My dear children,

I write this to you: you have already received the forgiveness of your sins through the name of Jesus.

Fathers, I write this to you: you know him who is from the beginning. Young men,

I write this to you: you have overcome the evil one.

My dear children, I write to you, because you already know the Father.

 

Fathers, I write to you, because you know him, who is from the beginning.

Young men, I write to you, because you are strong,

and the word of God lives in you, who have, indeed, overcome the evil one.

Do not love the world, or what is in it. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 

For everything in the world – the craving of the flesh,

the greed of eyes and people boasting of their superiority – all this belongs to the world, not to the Father.

The world passes away, with all its craving, but those who do the will of God remain for ever.

 

Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Luke 2:36-40

There was also a prophetess named Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

After leaving her father's home, she had been seven years with her husband; and since then,

she had been continually about the temple, serving God, as a widow, night and day, in fasting and prayer.

She was now eighty-four. Coming up at that time, she gave praise to God,

and spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When the parents had fulfilled all that was required by the law of the Lord, they returned to their town, Nazareth in Galilee.

There, the child grew in stature and strength, and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.

 

Gospel Reflection ：

 

"Rewarded by catching sight of the Christ child."

Saint John addresses his letter to the different generations of the Christian community,

encouraging them to remain in union with God and to base their lives on what they have received through Christ:

the forgiveness of sin and the indwelling of God. The description of youth or adulthood refers not only to physical age,

but also to different stages of growth in the spiritual life.

 

All are to know the Lord more deeply and to learn to walk in his ways.

Saint John encourages members of God's family not to lose what Christ has given them

by becoming absorbed in empty thoughts and desires, which he sums up in the term "world."

Anna in the Gospel gives us an example of a woman who is mature in years,

 

but who, more significantly, is spiritually mature. She has dedicated her widowhood completely to the Lord,

serving him in prayer and penance, longing for the coming of the Savior.

Her fidelity is rewarded by catching sight of the Christ child. She responds by telling others of the joy

and hope that is to be found in Christ.

Let's pray for spiritual maturity so that we will be faithful servants and witnesses to Jesus.