December 30, 2014: 6th day in Christmas Octave
- 'Children' pin: I write to you, children, because you know the Father. (1st reading)
- 'Eyeball' pin: All in the world... enticement for the eyes... is not from the Father. (1st reading)
- 'Owl' pin: Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom (gospel)
- 'Mele Kalikimaka' shirt, No-'L' pin: Christmas season (through Jan. 11)
- Hark! The herald angels sing/ Wesley, Whitefield (Willcocks arr.)
- O come, all ye faithful/ Wade (Willcocks arr.)
- Let the heavens be glad/ Feiten (psalm)
- 1 Jn 2:12-17 Children, your sins have been forgiven. Fathers, you know Him. Young men, God's word is in you, and you've conquered the Evil One. Children, you know the Father. If you love the world, the Father's love isn't in you; all in the world is not from the Father. The world is passing away, but if you do God's will, you'll remain.
- Ps 96:7-10 "Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!" Praise and worship the Lord; God is king and governs with equity.
- Lk 2:36-40 Prophetess Anna, 84, worshipped night and day. She thanked God and spoke about the child. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus returned to Nazareth; Jesus grew and became strong, filled with wisdom and God's favor.
Reflect
- Creighton: The 1st reading warns how the world may take our attention away from God. Actions that promote my personal security may be the ones the 1st reading warns against. May I give God recognition. Lord, open us to your presence. Let us be willing to accept roles that bring us closer to you, and give us strength to live them. Give us grace to say no when that will bring us closer to you. Help us take time to come to our personal Epiphanies.
- One Bread One Body: "Break the world record": "The world" = carnal allurements, enticements for the eye, pride. One who believes Jesus is Son of God conquers the world and proves the world wrong about sin, justice, and condemnation.
- Passionist: After Jesus was presented in the Temple, prophetess Anna thanked God and spoke about the child who would deliver Israel. Jesus comes to deliver us from sin, self-doubt, fear, confusion, sadness, hatred, greed, and divisions and bring peace. We must unite ourselves with him in the temple of our hearts and present ourselves to God; we'll be filled with wisdom and God's favor.
- DailyScripture.net: God gives us hope for the kingdom of heaven and eternal life; hope grows with prayer and perseverance. Elderly Anna had great hope, expecting God would fulfill his promises. Age and disappointments can make us cynical and hopeless if our hope isn't in God like hers was; her faith and hope fueled her zeal and fervor in prayer and service. We grow in hope by trusting Christ's promises and the Spirit's help.
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