A Simple Choice

Readings for Thursday December 30, 2010

First Reading: 1 John 2:12-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96
Gospel: Luke 2:36-40


Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life, is not from the Father but is from the world. Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever. (1 Jn 2:15-17)

In each of our lives, we have a very important choice to make; follow God or follow the world. God offers eternal life, peace and joy; the world offers nothing but death and destruction. Seems like a pretty simple choice, right? Unfortunately along our journeys we get distracted and things get very confusing for us at times. In Saint John's letter today, he recognizes those who are seeking the Father, and he warns them and us to love God only and to not love this world. He reminds us all that "who ever does the will of God remains forever." This is a very important thing to always keep in our hearts, because whenever things get confusing and we are not sure what decisions to make in our lives, we must always remember that we should be seeking to do the will of God.

I pray that we can all be devout followers of God, like Anna, that we read about in today's gospel. She was a faithful servant of the Lord who spent her last years with God in prayer and fasting, and after meeting Jesus as a child, she proclaimed the glory of God to all, and spread the message of the great hope that we should have in God.

May we all continue to follow God's will for our lives with complete faith and hope, and may God continue to be in us forever. Remember, even though it is hard, it really is a simple choice.

Father above, we thank you for the gift of this day. Lord, help us to serve you more fully and to not hold anything back from you. Lord we pray for an increase in faith and hope so that we will not hesitate in following you. Lord you are our God and our creator, you know what is best for us and you have a plan for our lives. May we trust in you now and always. We pray for all those seeking meaning and truth in their lives, may they be brought to you and your light. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.