December 30, 2019: Christmas Octave: Day 6
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| See five connections with today? Legend below |
- Hark! The herald angels sing/ Wesley, Whitefield (Willcocks arr.)
- O come, all ye faithful/ Wade (Willcocks arr.)
- What is the world to me/ Pferfferkorn tr. Crull: tune, lyrics+, piano arr. (1st reading)
- 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.
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| Not this Anna |
- 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, worshiped 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.
- Creighton: May we find the worship of God necessary as Anna did....
- One Bread, One Body: "Detachment": The Father's love has no place in those who love the world. Will you start 2020 attached to the world and detached from God or attached to God and detached from the world?
- Passionist: God gives us bronze, silver and gold: Bronze makes me think of creation: mountains, oceans, birds, butterflies, daffodils, roses, dogs, kittens, food, drink, air, water, sunsets, r.... God says, “Look at all the gifts; see how I love you.” Silver makes me think of human life: bodies, brains, ears, eyes, feet, hands, emotions, free will, hearts.... God gives us a rich variety of people: family, friends, teachers, public servants.... God says, “Look at the wonder of life and the people I placed in your life; see how I love you.” The gold is Jesus: “God so loved the world that he sent his only Son.” Jesus comes and gives us his words, example, death, resurrection, faith, forgiveness, the sacraments, uniting himself with and giving meaning to our suffering, Mary, and hope for eternal life. Our response is to give thanks. At Mass we give ourselves, with Jesus, to the Father. The Father receives our gift and gives us Jesus in Holy Communion. This exchange of gifts makes every Mass like Christmas. Smile, laugh, dance, sing, and rejoice: “Emmanuel,” God is with us!
- DailyScripture.net: "Anna recognized Christ's coming and thanked God": Those who trust God won't be disappointed. God has placed in his people a longing and hope for a Redeemer to bring us peace, joy, and justice. God's plan of redemption unfolds in Jesus' Incarnation and birth before all ages, who became flesh to redeem us. Luke records Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the Temple 40 days after his birth for the Jewish ceremony for the "redemption of the firstborn" and ritual purification of the mother. Anna, Spirit-filled prophet of 84, immediately recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah and heir to David's throne, thanked God, and spoke of him. She dedicated her life to serving God through prayer and fasting. Like Simeon and the Old Testament prophets, she was attentive to God and spoke under the Spirit's inspiration of God's saving plan. Despite the loss of her husband and the trials of advancing age, she persevered in worship and trust.
Anna is a model of faith and hope to us all. When we meet trials and setbacks, we can get discouraged, grow cynical, or despair, but disappointments can press us closer to God. May we trust God and receive his grace, strength, hope, love, and joy. God gives us hope for a home and happiness in his kingdom of justice, peace, and joy. The Holy Spirit renews and strengthens our hope and enables us to persevere in the face of any challenge we face. Lord, flood my heart with your peace, joy, and love; help me offer everything to you. Give me all I need to love and serve you unreservedly....Dress legend
- 'Crown' tie bar: Say, The Lord is king (psalm)
- '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, NoëL pin: Christmas season
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