Daily Readings - Mon Dec 30 2024

¹²I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name's sake.¹³I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father.¹⁴I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.¹⁵Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.¹⁶For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world.¹⁷And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Luke

Chapter 2

³⁶And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin,³⁷and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.³⁸And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.³⁹And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.⁴⁰And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the call to live a life rooted in God’s love and truth, while navigating the challenges of the world around us. In the first reading from 1 John, the apostle addresses believers as “little children,” “young men,” and “fathers,” emphasizing the universal call to live in accordance with God’s will. He warns against loving the world and its desires, which are fleeting and opposed to the eternal life offered by God. Instead, he encourages believers to remain strong in their faith, abiding in God’s Word, and overcoming the evil that seeks to pull them away from Him. The Gospel from Luke presents us with the figure of Anna, a prophetess who embodies a life of devotion and perseverance. As a widow, Anna dedicates herself to prayer and fasting, never leaving the temple. Her encounter with the infant Jesus is a moment of profound joy and fulfillment, as she recognizes Him as the long-awaited redemption of Israel. Anna’s life serves as a model of faithfulness and hope, showing us how to remain steadfast in our commitment to God even in the face of challenges and uncertainties. Meanwhile, the passage also highlights the growth of the young Jesus, who is filled with wisdom and grace, reminding us that spiritual growth is a lifelong journey. Together, these readings call us to evaluate our priorities and allegiances in life. Like Anna, we are invited to cultivate a deep relationship with God through prayer and service, trusting in His plan even when the world around us seems chaotic. The warning in 1 John against loving the world reminds us to guard our hearts against the temptations of materialism and selfishness, instead choosing to live in a way that reflects God’s will. As we go about our daily lives, may we strive to remain rooted in faith, hope, and love, knowing that true fulfillment comes not from the world but from abiding in God.