Gospel – Luke 2: 22; 39-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
they took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord.

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 on the Sunday Gospel

Let us remember we are in the holy presence of God.

An initial reading of the Gospel for the first Sunday after Christmas honestly struck me as a bit dry. Knowing I was going to write a reflection about it, I was excited so I skipped ahead, working weeks in advance to gather my thoughts. Nothing came to me, because this is not a theology paper; I could not study my way into a revelation.

I wasn’t ready yet.

A few more weeks of waiting, reflecting, and listening to God, helped reveal the meaning of this story in the context of my own advent journey. The very process of writing this reflection mirrored the lessons I can learn from today’s Gospel and the entire advent season. As is true in all of salvation history, God reveals in the proper context and time; He meets us where we are, but we have to open ourselves.

God becomes man and participates in our humanity with us, God also returns His son to the world and waits with us. St. La Salle points out that in this story, Mary gives Jesus to God who in turn affirms His gift of the Son to the world. This series of choices and symbolic affirmations reminds us to continue to give even what we have already given.

The founder tells us in his Meditation on today’s Gospel that, “The more you give to God, the more he will bless you.”

During these exciting days of Christmas we celebrate the birth of our Savior and in incarnation our God. We waited and prepared. Now what will we do with that preparation? Now that God is here among us how will you give to God? It is important to give time, prayer, and love to God; additionally give yourself. Give up whatever is keeping you from God, and give in to God’s will.

Or as we often say in Lasallian Volunteers, “Let go, and let God!”

Dylan Perry
Lasallian Volunteer Office

St. John Baptist De La Salle…Pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts…Forever.