Daily Reflection for Thursday, December 30 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Thursday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/123021.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: 1 John 2:12-17
Responsorial: Psalm 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10
Gospel: Luke 2:36-40
Our reflection on Thursday’s readings:
Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. 1 John 40.
When I was a little child I looked forward to Christmas as a time of toys and treats, of lights and colorful decorations. When my children were small, Christmas was when they put in their requests for the most sought after and usually most difficult to find toys. My grandchildren also seem to associate Christmas with an opportunity to make outrageous requests for the currently trending toy or device.
Now that I’m no longer a child, I recognize Christmas itself as a gift … as The Gift. God became man and dwelled among us, teaching us the values of our Creator, and demonstrating through his life, death and resurrection what is true and everlasting love.
In today’s Gospel John tells us that the world and its enticements are passing away. I’ve seen the truth of that in a dear aunt of mine. She worked and saved to have a fabulous mansion that she filled with beautiful furniture and objects of art. My mother was her only heir; she constantly directed my mother on what to do with her things once she passed on.
When she died, my mother didn’t follow her wishes. She sold the mansion and auctioned off all the things into which my aunt had put so much money and care. A few years ago, I visited the city where my aunt used to live. I went by her former home. The house and the surrounding neighborhood have fallen on hard times. Now it’s hard to believe that the house was once a stately show place.
The things of this world and their value never last. My children’s longed-for toys are long gone and probably forgotten. My grandchildren’s toys and devices are broken and discarded. All I have of my childhood Christmases are the memories and even they are fading as I get older and older.
But the gift I will always have is the one that God has given me and which he continually makes new with the renewing of my mind and heart.
Treasure God’s gift this Christmas season, throughout the year, and always.
Good tidings of comfort and joy, dear friends.
Melissa Kittrell