Reading: I prayed for this child, and the LORD granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the LORD; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the LORD.” She left him there; (1Samuel 1:27-28)
Observation: Today, I led the communion service this morning and I missed the two verses above because I was so focused on the fact that Hannah’s proclamation in honor of the Lord that follows these verses was so similar to the Canticle of Mary that makes up the main part of the Gospel reading from the book of Luke today. I wonder, now, how different our church would be if we truly saw all of our children as gifts from God and offered them first to the Lord and only after discerning whether they had a calling to the religious life, then they would seek some other vocation after they had determined that they did not have a calling to the priesthood or religious life. How many prophets, like Samuel, have we not seen because of our selfishness with our children?
Personification: Joy I want to focus today and for the rest of my life on being filled with the fruit of joy. As a well known pastor on the radio said this morning, I will not let those thoughts and discussions that are not focused on his Word to enter into my heart. I will attempt to close the lid on my heart concerning all these temporal things and focus only on the eternal.
Prayer: Lord, please supply me with the grace necessary to cut off all pathways to my heart from being accessible to disheartening talk or things of this world. Please help me to focus on the miracle of Jesus’ birth at Christmas and help me to bring real joy to my family and friends. I ask this, as always, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Scripture reference for the video: (The words on the video are not perfect, but I think the video is awesome)
The Divine Life 