December 29 - The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

God's Love

Today's Readings

During the Christmas season, we hear from the scriptures written by St. John, the Beloved Disciple. St. John enlightens us with his message: 

When we honor God's word and Commandments, God's love is perfected in us, and we are truly in union with God. God lights our path and leads us to Him with His divine love.

God lays a stone pathway to His light through His holy Commandments. We make choices each day to follow God's righteous path. When we choose to turn away from God's word and Commandments, we spiral down a path in a double life of lies. It is a life without God's light and without authenticity. When we enter this path, we are self-propelled into arrogance, deceit, and spiritual darkness. One who chooses to stray away from God's Commandments becomes spiritually blind and disoriented from his faith. What he considers truth is illusion. Instead of having God at the center of his life, he has a self-centered focus and can no longer clearly see what is good and what is evil. Rather than being in union with God, he has become lost and blind and is no longer listening to God's divine word.

We learn from Simeon about the exalted reward of listening to God. Simeon had strong faith and walked in the Light. Because he listened to God in prayer, he was able to hear God's inspiration to go in the Temple on the day that Mary and Joseph presented Jesus as the Messiah. Simeon witnessed the miracle of the Messiah and gave praise and thanks to God.

As we celebrate Christmas, let us spend time in prayer asking for strength to live our lives in union with God, to honor His holy Commandments, and to listen to His divine Word. 

1. What can we do each day to live in union with God and to bring spiritual light into our lives? 
2. How do we recognize if we have started down a path to spiritual blindness? How do we find our pathway back to God's light from spiritual darkness? 
3. How do we rise above the temptation of breaking God's word and Commandments? 
4. What can we do in our faith to better listen to God's word?

Sherry

Holy Name RCIA participant