DAY 10

Let The Heavens Be Glad And The Earth Rejoice
By John David Maldonado

For my reflection I decided to use Psalm 96: 7-10.  As a macro version of the verse it states: Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice.  That is too big for me.  My micro version of the verse states: Let our family be glad and it's members rejoice.  There are many key words in this passage that we can all relate to.  The words are confess, deserves, worship, beauty, reigns and fairness.  Yes, the passage says we are to apply these actions to the Lord, our God. However, we should apply this actions to our lives with Him as our guide through our everyday life.

The hardest conflict in my life was my divorce and the ugly consequences that surround it.  When I applied the actions mentioned above, I eventually sailed through the turbulent water to calmer seas. At the beginning, it was hurtful, painful, long and dark.  Through worship, I prevailed.  Once I confessed to my Lord that He was my Savior, I began experiencing the fruits that would eventually follow.  Year after year, the hurt got easier and the healing process was gradual.  I learned that He deserved my offerings of prayers and praises.  He showed me the beauty of my soul that the verse refers to as, "holy attire."  Through this process, I realized that He reigns not only over my world but the earth as a whole.  A proclamation!  The end result was one of fairness.  Through my actions with His guidance as a father, I was able to show my children that 4 parties involved now respect each other.  We all co-exist amicably.  My children know the meaning of true love as I love them.  The gift.

So, yes we can rejoice with each other as we are doing now.  I'm sorry we haven't been close but this I know is going in the right direction.  I hope we can try to change that, I know I'll do my best.  Thanks for this gift, God bless you and have a Happy New Year!

Love,

John David Maldonado

Grandpa JD

Readings
Wednesday December 30

1 JN 2:12-17
I am writing to you, children,
because your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake.
I am writing to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I am writing to you, young men,
because you have conquered the Evil One.
I write to you, children,
because you know the Father.
I write to you, fathers,
because you know him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong and the word of God remains in you,
and you have conquered the Evil One.

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.

Responsorial Psalm PS 96:7-8A, 8B-9, 10
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name!
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Bring gifts, and enter his courts;
worship the LORD in holy attire.
Tremble before him, all the earth.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Alleluia
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A holy day has dawned upon us.
Come, you nations, and adore the Lord.
Today a great light has come upon the earth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.


Gospel LK 2:36-40


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.