We are less than 48 hours away from a new year. This is usually the time when we obsess over our "to-do" lists and our material go...
We are less than 48 hours away from a new year. This is usually the time when we obsess over our "to-do" lists and our material goals. But the Church hits the pause button today with three words: World, Waiting, and Will.
First, St. John gives us a stern warning about the World. When he says, "Do not love the world," he isn't telling us to hate nature or our neighbors. He is warning us about the appetite for the world—the "lust of the eyes" and the "pride of life." Think about the Christmas gifts you just opened. They are new and shiny now. In two years, they will be in a garage sale. The "World" offers us things that expire.
Contrast this with the Waiting of Anna in the Gospel. She is eighty-four years old. She has been a widow for most of her life. The world would say she wasted her life in the Temple. But she wasn't wasting time; she was investing it. She understood that the only thing worth waiting for was the Redeemer. She didn't chase the fleeting trends of her time; she stood still and let God come to her.
Why? Because she was focused on the Will of God. St. John tells us, "The world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever."
This is the secret to a meaningful life. We spend so much energy building things that will eventually turn to dust. But every act of kindness, every moment of prayer, and every act of forgiveness—these are the "Will of God." These are the only things you can take with you when you leave this life.
Actionable Step: Look at your plans for 2026. Identify one goal that is purely "worldly" (status, possession) and one goal that is purely "God’s Will" (service, prayer). Make sure you are prioritizing the one that lasts forever.
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