Divine consequences would result from the life, word, actions of Jesus the Christ

Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.

By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor

A reflection on the daily readings, for the Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas, by Father Perry.

+ I suppose it is good parenting not to punish but to apply consequences for actions.

In other words, if a child doesn’t learn early in life that there are consequences for actions, then how will they instinctively know a truth like this: “If you don’t pay your rent, you’re out on the street. If you don’t pay your car bill, they come and take away your car from you.”

Is that punishment? Indirectly, yes; but directly, it is simply reaping the negative consequences for your actions.

+ On the other hand, we also reap the consequences for good actions.

It often comes in the form of praise, or rewards, or discovering the blessing within.

John, in his letter today, smothers his followers with praise after praise after praise for all that they have learned, for all that they have practiced, for all that they are living actively each day.

But he also warns about getting too attached to “things” and to “this world” and forgetting about God and the things that are eternal, the things that really matter.

+ Usually in old age people lose their “good sight” and need to rely on glasses or contacts.

But not Anna! She was 84 years old, a widow after only seven years of marriage, but a person whose “eyes” and “ears” and “heart” was fixed on God and the things that are eternal, the things that really matter.

And so when Joseph, Mary and Jesus entered the temple, Anna was there fixing her “eyes” on God, and behold, she saw Jesus.

She came forward and prophesied because her spiritual vision was clearly 20/20.

She “saw” who he was, and what his purpose was, and “how” he was in the process of fulfilling God’s redemptive work about to unfold in the divine and human word born of Mary.

She “saw” and she “heard” and she knew in her “heart” that God was pouring out grace upon grace upon this child and her parents and all of us, and because of him life would never be the same.

Divine consequences were beginning and those divine consequences would result from the life and word and actions of Jesus the Christ — divine and eternal consequences!

In the words of the verse before the Gospel today we could surely say: “A holy day has dawned upon us.”

Father Perry D. Leiker is the 13th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.