THE SIXTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS - Gospel (Luke 2:36-40) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.” (Lk 2:40)

FIRST READING - 1 Jn 2:12-17

"He who does the will of God abides for ever."

A reading from the First Letter of John

¹² I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his sake. ¹³ I 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. ¹⁴ I 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.

¹⁵ Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world passes away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides for ever.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 2:36-40

"Anna spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."

✠From the Gospel according to Luke

³⁶ And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan′u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity, ³⁷ and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. ³⁸ And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹ And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. ⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

THE SIXTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS - Gospel (Luke 2:36-40)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear people of God,

In today's Word of God, God the Father wishes to tell all humanity to follow the example of Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, and the prophetess Anna, who lived and pleased God the Father in all places and at all times.

In today's world, God the Father desires humanity to renounce all things that belong to the world - its passions and sins - to sacrifice, fast, pray, unite closely with God the Father, and live a simple, good, and holy life.

Living in this way will bring humanity the happiness of seeing the face of God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

God the Father wishes to tell humanity in the world today to follow the example of Anna's way of life. It was through the life of humility, love, poverty, simplicity, sacrifice, fasting, and praying day and night in intimate union with God the Father that she was granted the grace by God the Father to see the Son of God come down to earth to become man.

There is no happiness greater than being in the heart of God the Father, seeing God, and holding in the arms the only Son of God, the Messiah—the One awaited by all nations.

God the Father desires humanity to be vigilant against the temptations of Satan, to promptly carry out His holy will, and to eliminate all passions so as to live a life of complete hope and trust in God the Father.

Furthermore, God the Father also wants humanity to follow the example of Mother Mary and Saint Joseph, for they fulfilled everything God the Father desired, from spiritual life to material life.

God the Father also wants all humanity to follow the example of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God who came down to earth as man. He obeyed God the Father, just as He obeyed Mary and Saint Joseph. Through His supernatural and natural life, He constantly obeyed and fulfilled everything God the Father desired of Him.

Today's Word of God, God the Father calls all His children to unite even more intimately with God the Father and to constantly remain by His side so that He may grant strength and bestow grace to please Him, to be vigilant against all occasions of sin, to abandon the sinful path of the world, and to turn completely toward the Most High, God the Father, the unique and eternal Love.

God the Father desires humanity to wisely choose to carry out His holy will like Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, and Anna.

Especially, follow the example of Jesus Christ, who constantly obeyed God the Father in all places and at all times and obeyed until His last breath.

God the Father calls all humanity to live a life of sacrifice, self-denial, fasting, penance, and ceaseless prayer so that they may overcome the temptations and schemes of Satan and have the strength to carry out the holy will of God the Father.

Thanks be to God. Amen