Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 30, 2017

First Reading: 1 John 2.12-17

¹²I am writing to you, little sons, because your sins are forgiven for the sake of his name¹³I am writing to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, adolescents, because you have overcome the evil one¹⁴I am writing to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I am writing to you, young men, because you are strong, and the Word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one¹⁵Do not choose to love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the charity of the Father is not in him¹⁶For all that is in the world is the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the arrogance of a life which is not of the Father, but is of the world¹⁷And the world is passing away, with its desire. But whoever does the will of God abides unto eternity

Psalm 96

Psalms

Chapter 96

¹A Canticle of David himself, when the house was built after the captivity. Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth²Sing to the Lord and bless his name. Announce his salvation from day to day³Announce his glory among the Gentiles, his miracles among all peoples⁴For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised. He is terrible, beyond all gods⁵For all the gods of the Gentiles are demons, but the Lord made the heavens⁶Confession and beauty are in his sight. Sanctity and magnificence are in his sanctuary⁷Bring to the Lord, you natives of the nations, bring to the Lord glory and honor⁸Bring to the Lord glory for his name. Lift up sacrifices, and enter into his courts⁹Adore the Lord in his holy court. Let the entire earth be shaken before his face¹⁰Say among the Gentiles: The Lord has reigned. For he has even corrected the whole world, which will not be shaken. He will judge the peoples with fairness¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth exult; let the sea and all its fullness be moved¹²The fields and all the things that are in them will be glad. Then all the trees of the forest will rejoic¹³before the face of the Lord: for he arrives. For he arrives to judge the earth. He will judge the whole world with fairness and the peoples with his truth

Gospel: Luke 2.36-40

Luke

Chapter 2

³⁶And there was a prophetess, Anna, a daughter of Phanuel, from the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in years, and she had lived with her husband for seven years from her virginity³⁷And then she was a widow, even to her eighty-fourth year. And without departing from the temple, she was a servant to fasting and prayer, night and day³⁸And entering at the same hour, she confessed to the Lord. And she spoke about him to all who were awaiting the redemption of Israel³⁹And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city, Nazareth⁴⁰Now the child grew, and he was strengthened with the fullness of wisdom. And the grace of God was in him

Sermon

The readings today offer us a powerful reflection on living a life rooted in faith and devotion. In the first reading from 1 John, we hear a call to resist the allure of the world and instead choose a life shaped by God’s will. John reminds us that the world’s desires—flesh, eyes, and pride—are fleeting and opposed to the Father’s love. He encourages us to remain strong in the Word of God and to overcome the evil one. This passage challenges us to examine our priorities and ensure that our hearts are not entangled in the temporary attractions of this world but are instead fixed on eternal truths. The Gospel from Luke introduces us to Anna, a prophetess whose life exemplifies this very call. Anna, advanced in age and a widow, dedicates herself to prayer and fasting, never leaving the temple. Her unwavering devotion to God allows her to recognize the redemption of Israel in the infant Jesus. Anna’s story shows us what it means to live a life fully surrendered to God, trusting in His plan even when the world around us seems uncertain. Her example invites us to cultivate a deep and abiding relationship with God, one that transcends worldly distractions and remains focused on His will. Together, these readings remind us that our strength and wisdom come not from the world but from God. Like Anna, we are called to live with purpose and perseverance, trusting that our lives are part of a larger story of redemption. Let us strive to overcome the temptations of the world by grounding ourselves in prayer, fasting, and a deep love for God’s Word. In doing so, we will find the grace to grow in wisdom and to abide in God’s will, even as the world around us fades away.