Daily Catholic Mass Readings for December 30, 2017
First Reading: 1 John 2.12-17
12I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.13I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, dear children, because you have known the Father.14I write to you, fathers, because you have known him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.16For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world.17The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.
Psalm 96
1Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.2Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.3Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.4For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.5For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.6Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary.7Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.8Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts.9Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.10Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity.11Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it;12let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy;13they will sing before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth.
Gospel: Luke 2.36-40
36There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,37and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.38Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.39When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth.40And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon 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.