The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

Today's Mass Readings

The American Catholic author, Flannery O’Connor, wrote short stories with underlying theological symbolism. However, many who read them do not find anything resembling holiness and are even scandalized. Her novels are populated by very flawed characters who meet tragic endings. She described her stories as grace being offered and frequently rejected. In fairness, we tend to whitewash the bad behavior of Old Testament escapades and the violence of the Cross. It is this world that Christ came to redeem and came as one of us to lift up to heaven.

This helps us understand what St. John means when he states, “Do not love the world or things of the world.” This is similar to what St. Paul says when he says we must reject the desires of the flesh. We believe in the resurrection and the goodness of creation too! Yet, the flesh and the world are the parts of us that will not go into eternity, that are destined only for corruption. When we can become more sensitive to how the world hurts us through the tragedy, disappointment, and isolation it causes us, God can use it to offer us the gracious turn toward holiness.

The prophetess Anna who witnessed Jesus’ Presentation in the Temple gives us an example. She was widowed early. Instead of remarrying immediately to focus on this world, or becoming bitter and turning inward, she spent her days in the Temple. She was present for people coming to worship in many forms: fervent and contrite, indifferent, and everything in between. Anna would be a faithful witness and likely a support. Still, she probably looked like a pathetic fool to many just coming to do their duty. In this one experience at the end of her life she is validated by God in her readiness to move from this world’s temple to the Temple not made by hands in heaven.

May we treat the things of this world as the blessing that lead us to greater one to come. Let us accept grace offered to fortify us in incorruptibility.

Reflection by Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB