Daily Gospel Reflection

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December 30, 2023

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas
Lk 2:36-40
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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.

Reflection

Eddie Kreimier '09
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When I was a surgery resident, I trained at a Catholic hospital. As my training progressed, I was drawn more and more to the small chapel on the first floor of the hospital. At the end of each day, and especially after a 24-hour call shift, I would sit for 5 or 10 minutes at the tabernacle and pray for my patients, all patients of the hospital, myself, and the decisions I made. At the time, I did not consider this an act of adoration. But those times sitting alone with Jesus, I am certain, helped to deliver me through the most taxing period of my life.

At first, I was confused when reading today’s gospel passage. But it called to mind the act of adoration and my time in that small hospital chapel. Interestingly, the passage makes sure to include that this prophetess had been married for 7 years. What does this have to do with the ultimate climax of the passage, the proclamation of Jesus’ birth?

It is important that this woman lived a complete life in the earthly world. She then retired to the temple. But when the Lord came to her, she forsook what had been at least 50 years in the temple in order to bring the news of Jesus to the world.

In sitting with the Lord in adoration, we sit with Jesus so that he may sit with us. In those quiet moments, adoration reopens our souls to Christ in us. As with the prophetess Anna, when Jesus is with and in us, we can then begin to bring Jesus from the temple to the world.

Prayer

Rev. Brian C. Ching, C.S.C.

O Lord, there are so many days when we can feel as if you are distant. We wonder if you are really there—if you will really come. Grant us the faith and patience of the Prophetess Anna and
increase our trust in the promise of your coming. May our celebration of your incarnation remind us of your fidelity. Help us to recognize that you are always near, so that we might live out our days in faith and prayer, awaiting the joy of your coming again. Amen.

Saint of the Day

St. Anysia

St. Anysia was a wealthy young woman in Thessalonica who was killed for her faith in the early fourth century.

She inherited a fortune from her parents when they died, and she used the money to assist the poor. She was also a faithful member of the local Christian community. A persecution prevented Christians from gathering in public, so the faithful gathered secretly. Anysia set out one day to join others in one of these secret assemblies when she was stopped by a soldier. He asked her where she was going. Startled, she made the sign of the cross. The soldier grabbed her and demanded to know who she was and where she was going.

“I am a servant of Jesus Christ,” she replied, “and I am going to the Lord’s assembly.”

“I will prevent that,” the soldier said. “I will take you to sacrifice to the gods. Today we worship the sun.” She struggled against him, and spat in his face—so he became enraged and drew his sword and killed her.

Later, when the persecution ended, Thessalonian Christians built a church on the spot where she was killed.

St. Anysia, the young woman who used her fortune to help the poor, and who was killed on her way to Mass, pray for us!


Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Anysia is available for use under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license. Last accessed November 7, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.