“SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”
Daily Spiritual Reflections
30th December 2021
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THURSDAY, CHRISTMAS OCTAVE
1 Jn 2: 12-17; Ps 96: 7-10; Lk 2: 36-40
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LIFE LIVED IN FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD
Most of us have a very limited vision of prayer, namely the recitation of devotional formulas, novenas, etc. There is far more to prayer than this. Our whole life ought to be one long prayer to God. This is what the prophetess Anna is teaching us in the Gospel reading of today. Her life becomes a symbol, or, better still, a living example of what all our lives should be, a living sacrifice to God. What exactly this means for each of us is different. Each person has his or her own part to play in the great plan of salvation. Hopefully, we shall all do our part. The big question is: How is this possible amid the busyness of our lives?
Jesus gave a certain priority to prayer in his life and ministry because he knew that this was the basis of his relationship with the Father. Without being in a relationship with God through prayer, it is impossible to know what it is that God wants from us. It is certainly ironic that the first thing that we stop doing in our lives when we are busy with some project or another is praying. This does not happen in the lives of the saints and herein lies the key to holiness and growth in the spiritual life. We must learn to give absolute priority to prayer, as it is the basis of our relationship with God. Without prayer, we cannot know what is God’s will for our lives.
The Gospel presents to us a woman who was alert, attentive and well prepared for the Messiah when he visited her. Before the parents of Jesus leave the temple there comes the Prophetess Anna and she begins to praise God and proclaim the glory of God. Many people in Israel looked forward for the coming of Jesus, but what characterized Anna was something different. She was living in this world but as the citizen of heaven in the vivid hope of welcoming the Messiah. In the busyness of Christmas celebrations, may we not miss Christ who is the centre of the celebration, but rather grow closer to him.
Response: Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.
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