"Do not love the world or the things of the world.? ? 1 John 2:15

I own two vehicles: a van and a car. I have a 9210i cellphone that works as a minicomputer. The price of my original US Ovation guitar is almost worth my son?s full year enrollment in Ateneo. I am a member of a fitness club where I do workouts 3 to 4 times a week. So, am I worldly?
      My van transports my Christian band and equipment to many places for worship concerts. The car speeds my wife in between supervising two schools and home. My cellphone receives regular bulk petitions for prayers. It also stores my talks and notes as a preacher. My guitar travels with me to produce the best sound I know for the Lord. And I am so far physically fit to do God?s enormous work, thanks to my regular gym.
      No, I am not worldly. I do not love the things I use. I love the persons I use them for. I love my GOD I offer them to. Yes, these material things will pass away. But the memories, the service, the friendship, the love I received and have given using these material things will last forever. Alvin B.

REFLECTION:
Do you love the things of this world for their own sake? Or do you value them because you use them to serve and love others?

Lord, let me value the material things you bless me with but only because I can use them for your glory!

G O S P E L

Luke 2:36-40

The prophetess Anna also predicts that Jesus will have a special role in bringing deliverance to Israel. Whether she knew that the deliverance she was referring to was from sin or not, we do not know and it does not matter. What matters is that we know that from the beginning of Jesus? life, there was something about Him that set Him apart from the rest of humanity. We know that this something is that He is the Messiah, the Son of God. Let us give thanks every day to God for such a wonderful gift. May we never abuse His goodness to us by ignoring the words He speaks into our lives.

36 There was also 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, 37 and then as a widow until she was eightyfour. She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38 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. 39 When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

my reflections
think: May we never abuse His goodness to us by ignoring the words He speaks into our lives.

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God?s special verse/thought for me today________________

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T O D A Y ? S BLESSING LIST

Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________

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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Revelation 15-18

In the First Reading today, St. John the Evangelist reminds us and warns us. He reminds us that this world is passing. He warns us not to love this passing world. Both his reminder and warning are very timely as the present year has 48 hours or less left. The year is ending while the world may not be ending today or tomorrow. But it will end! As we have to let go of a year, we must never cling to anything or anyone in this world. Everything and everyone here, including the world in itself, is passing!
      The prophetess Anna in the Gospel knew whom to love and cling to. She was 84 years old, seven years married when she became a widow, and she never left the Temple since then, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. Her life and everything and everyone in it, like the world around her, were passing, save God in whom she trusted remain. She loved God and clung to Him alone. She never trusted in the world that passes; thus, when the newborn Son of God came, He did not just pass her by. He revealed Himself to her. She then passed on to others what passed her not: ??and she spoke of the Child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.?
      As another year passes, let us stop for a long while, sit down in prayer, reflect and examine if we have heeded St. John?s warning and followed the example of the prophetess Anna. Fr. Bobby T.

REFLECTION QUESTION:
Do I love this passing world?

Deliver us, O Lord, from loving this passing world. Remind us that this world will come to an end when we begin to be inordinately attached to it and to anything and anyone in it. May we love You and cling to You alone. Like what You did to Anna the prophetess, do not pass us by; but rather reveal Yourself to us. May we in turn speak of You to all who seek You and Your deliverance. Amen.

St. Sabinus and Companions, martyrs, pray for us.