Many of us have children of our own now some perhaps even grandchildren. While others perhaps are young adults now earning our own keep. When all of us look back, we begin to realise how quickly time have flown by. However in the early years it seemed like a ‘forever’ struggle to grow up and learn how to lead independent lives. Slowly we gave up the notion of having one which is carefree or even worry free. How we have matured! We are responsible, disciplined and contribute to the greater good of society for God and country!
Can we say the same for our spiritual life as children of God our Heavenly Father? Have we grown and matured by the same degree? Do we listen to Him through His Word daily? Do we guard ourselves against temptation, evil and sin through frequent reception of the Sacrament of reconciliation and Holy Eucharist? How is it then that many of us still have the faith and understanding of a toddler or perhaps that of pre-teens? Many cannot give an accurate account of the parables in the Bible let alone quote scripture. If we say quoting the word of God is not as important living the word of God in our lives then what do we have to show for it? Are our families prayerful and living Holy lives? Are we loving, merciful and actively reaching out to the poor, needy, hungry, the orphans and the aged? Are we building communities for the reign and Kingdom of God? How many souls have we touched and saved in Jesus’s name?
Like Anna in today’s Gospel let us live in the Holy presence of the Lord our God observing always His Will for us. Growing in maturity of faith and love of Him, we will actively testify to glory of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
First reading
1 John 2:12-17
Observance of the will of God
I am writing to you, my own children,
whose sins have already been forgiven through his name;
I am writing to you, fathers,
who have come to know the one
who has existed since the beginning;
I am writing to you, young men,
who have already overcome the Evil One;
I have written to you, children,
because you already know the Father;
I have written to you, fathers,
because you have come to know the one
who has existed since the beginning;
I have written to you, young men,
because you are strong and God’s word has made its home in you,
and you have overcome the Evil One.
You must not love this passing world
or anything that is in the world.
The love of the Father cannot be
in any man who loves the world,
because nothing the world has to offer
– the sensual body,
the lustful eye,
pride in possessions –
could ever come from the Father
but only from the world;
and the world, with all it craves for,
is coming to an end;
but anyone who does the will of God
remains for ever.
Gospel
Luke 2:36-40
Anna speaks of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem
There was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. She came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.
When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. Meanwhile the child grew to maturity, and he was filled with wisdom; and God’s favour was with him.
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