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O loving and everlasting God our Father how can we ever thank You enough? Praise You enough? Love You enough? We who are flawed and often blinded by sin; and who often lead selfish, self-centred lives. We who hold on to worldly attachments and replace simple truths with glamourous notions, concoctions which distorts and twists the truth to provide us with personal comforts and glorification.  And yet You love us so much that You sent Your Son….

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit one God for ever and ever.  You entrusted Him to blessed parents who were made in Your image and so came to them as a vulnerable baby to be cared for.  He grew up strong and began his journey to show us the truth, the light and the way.  He preached the Good News to the poor, the blind received their sight, and the lame walked, the lepers were cleansed, and the deaf heard, the dead were raised up.  The message was clear, the Kingdom of God is at hand and the Son of God was among us. Still most refused to listen and so our Lord took all our sins upon Himself as they put Him to death for the truth. But death had no hold over Him and so our Lord and Saviour rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven where He has prepared rooms for us faithful.

Loving Father because of Your great mercy and love for us; through Your Son we can enter into a very personal and deep relationship with You. Let us never take this relationship we have with You for granted. Through the Holy Spirit our counsellor and guide may we welcome the New Year with renewed zeal for love of You. May we continue to do Your Will for us as we strive to lead lives of holiness. Amen

FIRST READING
John 2:18–21

GOSPEL
John 1:1–18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.

But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only–begotten Son, full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only–begotten Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.

Great is Your love and faithfulness O God that Your promise was fulfilled by the sending of Your Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  And all who were faithful were given the grace to prophesy the coming of the redeemer King.

Anna was one of Your chosen models of faithfulness to witness the arrival of Your Son. She who worshipped, loved and served You with all her heart all her life long years. She is also one of the earliest evangelist to proclaim the good news of our salvation to all whom were hoping and waiting.

In a sense Anna also signifies the Church who is at present a widow by the death of her husband; waiting for the day she knows not when, to be reunited with Him. We are His Church and Our Lord and God dwells in the hearts of us who choose to remain faithful. We are given the graces to prophesy the good news, to share His love and salvation for all who would receive Him.  Let us live NOT in this World but live our lives doing the Will of our Father; for we will have life with Him in His Heavenly Kingdom. Amen

FIRST READING
John 2:12–17

GOSPEL
Luke 2:36–40

There was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty–four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.