6th Day within Christmas Octave : Saturday 30th December 2023

Victory over evil is the theme of the first reading. The writer included little children, young people, fathers – in other words, everyone. All had overcome the evil one. How? By not loving the world and by doing the Will of the Father. Our behaviour is determined by what we love. When we love the Father, the Creator of all that is good, then we follow His Will and His Way. That is the way to overcome evil.

It was time for purification according to the law of Moses, so Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. Simeon, through the power of the Holy Spirit, recognised Jesus as God’s salvation. Then Anna, an elderly prophetess who spent all her time at the temple, came and saw Jesus and began praising God. She had lived long enough to see the salvation of God! Anna recognised God’s salvation in the Baby Jesus. We have been given the gift of being able to read about Jesus’ life on earth – His miracles, His love for the vulnerable, and His sacrifice on the cross. Do we rejoice in God’s work of salvation?

Lord, help me to be aware of Your saving grace in all my experiences.