The Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

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.

Jesus Christ is our light and it is important for us to remember that no matter how dark it is, His Light is always nearby. We might be blinded to it by our sins, or distracted from it by our doubts and fears, but it is always there waiting for us to reach out to it. It is also important to remember that we are called to reflect the light of God’s grace to others.

What are the things that keep us from seeing the light of Christ in our lives? What are we doing to reach out to our Lord and his children? How can we be better beacons of God’s love?

O Lord, be our light and the source of all our good.

Amen.

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

We are all offered the chance to be filled with wisdom and favor of God. However, not all of us accept this offer or recognize it when we are faced with the decision between good and evil. This is why we must fast and pray as Anna did in her life. We are asked to build our spiritual lives upon these two pillars of faith. We also must remember that fasting does not have to be just from food, but it can also be from anything else that keeps us away from God, distracts us from Him, or would be a worthy offering to our Lord. Prayer too is just as important as fasting and is our means of communing with God on a personal level. It helps build up our relationship with him, just as our conversations with family, friends, and neighbors do.

What are we willing to fast from in the coming days, months, and years? How are we preparing ourselves to receive God’s wisdom into our lives? How are we building our relationship with God through our prayers?

O Lord, help us to fast from those things that keep us away from you and to pray that we might be drawn to you so that we might be filled with your Wisdom and Favor.

Amen.

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled.

Peace. It is something all of us search for throughout our lives and our hoped for end. However, the peace of living forever with our Lord and God does not come without a cost. We, like Simeon, must be righteous, devout, and patiently await our heavenly consolation. These three things are easier said than done as there are many things which will tempt us away from them. In the end, we will be judged by how we fulfill the Word of God. Let us hope we will so that we might find the peace of a good life and death.

What are the things we do that stand in the way of our peace? What keeps us from doing God’s Will? If we were to die today would we be at peace with our God and ourselves?

O Lord, grant us your peace and the willingness to accept it into our lives.

Amen.

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Jesus was a sign of contradiction for many in his time and in our own. He caused the fall and rise of many evil and good people and revealed their hearts. Being a devote servant to God offers us no consolation other than hope in our salvation and love of our God, both of which are impossible to see without the eyes of faith. These are not the rewards the world promises or offers us and it can be very difficult to live a virtuous life when all around you wonder why you have to be so contradictory. However, as Christians we are not meant to go with the flow or to walk along the wide road. No, we are called to cross against the current and take the narrow path to salvation. We often ask for signs to help us discern God’s Will, but perhaps we are meant to be signs to each other of God’s Love for us and His desire to lead us home to Him.

How are we signs of contradiction to the world? Are we really willing to allow a sword to pierce our hearts? In what way do we seek to reveal God to the hearts of others?

O Lord, make us a sign of your Love to the world, even if it means others will hate us for it.

Amen.

Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.

St. John the Apostle was the only disciple to stay with Jesus throughout his Passion and he is the first one to arrive at the tomb after the Resurrection. He runs there after Mary Magdalene tells the disciples that Jesus has been take from the tomb. However, when he arrives he does not go in, but allows Peter to go in first. His love for the Lord is made plain by the simple act of running, while his humility is shown by his deference to Peter.

How do we express our love for God and humility towards His Church? What are the things we run for in our lives? Are they leading us toward God or away from him?

O Lord, give us the faithfulness of St. John so that we might run to you with feet grounded in humility.

Amen.

Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr

You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.

As Christians we can sometimes fall into the trap of wanting everyone to like or love us. However, Jesus reminds us today that we will also be hated if we live according to His Word. Some people might not like that we put life before choice, social justice before personal profit, and faith before our doubts. Our faith sometimes requires us to be stoned for standing up for what we believe in and like St. Stephen we should be willing to sacrifice everything for the Gospel truths.

Do we place being liked or loved before being honest and truthful in our dealings with others? What are some of the ways we have been stoned or hurt because we stood our ground on a matter of faith? Are we willing to be hated and endure to the end even without the consolation of being liked or loved?

O Lord, grant us the courage to be a martyr for love of you, whether it be physical, intellectual, or spiritual.

Amen.

Christmas

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

We are all called to be shepherds to our family, friends, neighbors, and strangers. Like the shepherds of the Gospels we are given a chance to glorify and praise God for all we have experienced in this world, especially his love, mercy, and grace revealed to us through God’s choice to come to us as a Savior. He comes as an infant, totally dependent upon Mary and Joseph for His every need. It is through their daily duties and simple acts of love that they express their love for God.

How do we express our thanks for God’s works seen and unseen in our lives? How can we make our everyday chores and routines into meaningful prayers? What other things can we do to live a life that glorifies and praises God?

O Lord, help us to be a good shepherds of your children and to reflect upon all you have done for us in our lives.

Amen.