Daily Gospel Reflection: The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
December 30, 2023
The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
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.
*United States Conference of Catholic
Bishop Robert Barron
Friends, today’s Gospel concludes Luke’s account of the Presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple.
The Presentation of the Lord goes on now in our churches, in our temples, at the Mass. We say that the Mass is the source and summit of the Christian life, for it effects even now, applies even now, the salvific power of the cross.
And at the heart of the Mass, of course, is the Eucharist, which means thanksgiving. Listen to what Luke says about the prophetess Anna, who was a temple person through and through. Upon seeing the Christ child, “she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”
That’s our task and our privilege even now.
COMMENTS