The Return to Nazareth

DECEMBER 30, 2021, THURSDAY
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas (White)
CYCLE C -YEAR II
Lectionary: 203

Reading I
1 Jn 2:12-17

I am writing to you, children,

because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake.

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 conquered the Evil One.

I write to you, children,

because you know the Father.

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 remains in you,

and you have conquered the Evil One.

Do not love the world or the things of the world. 

If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 

For all that is in the world,

sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,

is not from the Father but is from the world. 

Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. 

But whoever does the will of God remains forever.

Responsorial Psalm
96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10

R.    (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Give to the LORD, you families of nations,

    give to the LORD glory and praise;

    give to the LORD the glory due his name!

R.    Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Bring gifts, and enter his courts;

    worship the LORD in holy attire.

Tremble before him, all the earth.

R.    Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.

He has made the world firm, not to be moved;

    he governs the peoples with equity. 

R.    Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

A holy day has dawned upon us.

Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.

Today a great light has come upon the earth.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel
Lk 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.

GOSPEL REFLECTION:

The Christmas season celebrates the birth of a child but the Gospels include many venerable figures like Simeon, Elizabeth, Zechariah and, today, Anna. These people remind me of the fullness of life and wisdom that enrich human experience. I pray that young and old alike may people may benefit from each other's company.

Think of the joy of Anna! For so many years she has lived faithfully in the Temple. She is a familiar sight, part of the furniture. She is a holy old woman, set in her ways. Then comes this moment of delight when she recognises that God is indeed present, and in human form. She tells everyone. May I too speak of God being born into our world today.

PRAYER:

Lord, let me value the hidden quality of prayer. “What each one is interiorly unknown to anyone else is of vital consequence to all.” Let me never doubt the value of ‘wasting time’ hidden with you before the Father.