DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD

30 December 2015 (The Sixth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord)

?1 John 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10 (R.v.11a); Luke 2:36-40

?”DO NOT LOVE THE WORLD OR THE THINGS IN THE WORLD” (Matt 6:33)

There is one Igbo song that we normally take at funerals:

?”Nwa nke mmadu che uche ndu gi;

“Gini g’abu ugwo olu gi;

“Oge ife nke uwa ga-esoro uwa laa?

“Nwa nke mmadu che uche ndu gi.”?

That song translates thus:

“Man think about your life;

“What shall be your gain,

“When the things of the world would vanish with the world?

“Man think about your life.”?

That song has always come to my mind whenever I see people lose their precious things, even their life through accident or the likes or when I see people waste their lives in pursuit of material things.?

Surely, this is a period of evaluation on how we lived in the passing year and how we can improve in the coming year; a period of stock-taking.✏?

Unfortunately, for many of us, this stock-taking has to do with our gains and losses materially. We think less of how closer or farer we are to God.?

St John encourages us today (1 John 2:12-17) not to allow the love of the things of this passing world to deny us of the joy of being with the Lord. Imagine the fulfilment the prophetess Anna had at witnessing the time of the Messiah (Luke 2:36-40). That fulfilment comes from patiently waiting on God.?

As this year draws to its final end tomorrow, may the joy of the Lord strengthen you and enable you not to be deceived by the things of this passing world, through Christ our Lord. Amen.??

I wish a joyful and richly-meditative day ahead. It is well with you.??