"Further up and further in.” 

It is the last day of the year, a natural day to reflect on what went well, what was hard and how we can improve for next year. Last year at this time, I was reading the Chronicles of Narnia for the very first time. I saw Christmas come in the land where it was always winter, voyaged on the Dawn Treader, encountered dragons, and came to the last battle. If you haven’t read the series, I highly recommend it (and I will try not to give away too many spoilers.) 

At the Last Battle, the children, those that know the truth have returned to Narnia. Only it is no longer Narnia, they are finding a new world, more beautiful world. 

“I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now...Come further up, come further in!” 
― C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle

These words of C.S. Lewis echoed in my head today as I read the first reading. It is the last hour. Maybe not the last hour of your life, but maybe it is. It is for sure though the last hours of the year. How are you living? Where are you going?

Both C.S. Lewis and John are calling us home. John is writing to those that know the truth. Those that know Jesus is their savior, that He died for them. So many have left, so many have turned their backs from the truth. But John asks us to carry on. 

In the Last Battle, the world of Narnia is ending, yet Aslan is calling them to press on, “further up and further in.” He is calling us to our home. 
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We need to be preparing for the after life. We need to be preparing for heaven. We need to be living the truth and inviting others in. We should live each day this way, not just December 31st. “Further up and further in”, will you journey there? 

Reflect on your last year, what in your life is different? How would you like next year to be different? 

In the last year, how have you been preparing for the end? Have you or maybe you have not?How can you live your faith to be further prepared? 

​What truths of the faith do you know? How can you share them? 

"Further up, further in."

"It is the last hour." 

​"I know the truth."

Spend some time today writing down the ways you saw God work in your life over the last year. Then spend some time in prayer and ask God how He wants to work in your life next year. 

The feast of the Holy Family is one of my favorites (but I do have quite a few “favorite” feast days). The Holy Family provides such a great example to us, even though we don’t know much from the childhood of Jesus and St. Joseph doesn’t say a single word in scripture. 

One of my favorite verses about the Holy Family is from this Gospel passage. “[Jesus] went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.” Luke 2:51. 

One reason I love this verse is how Jesus was obedient to his parents as he grew up. Sometimes when I reflect on the Holy Family, I wonder how Joseph handled living with the only two people who have walked his earth without sin. I think it shows just how holy he must have been, being that close with both Jesus and Mary. 

Another reason I love this verse is that Mary “kept all these things in her heart.” There is so much I need to learn from Mary, but pondering things in my heart is something I want to work on. Too often when things happen, I turn to my friends and complain about it. Sometimes it’s good to talk through a situation, but I really only need to talk it through with one or two people then take it God and ponder it in my heart.

Pondering can be different for everyone. I consider pondering as bringing what is going on to God in prayer, but then truly surrendering it. The hardest part for me is then trusting God once I have surrendered it to Him. The Holy Family is a good example of trusting God because more often than not they were told what to do, but not given a reason. 

Today, let us pray for the Holy Family to show us how to better surrender to and trust God.

What are some times you have been able to surrender and trust God? Why were you able to do that?

What are some times you knew you should surrender and trust God, but didn't? Why didn't you? Would you do it differently now?

Do you try and model your family after the Holy Family? How can you learn to love your family more today?

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph."

"Come Holy Spirit."

"Jesus, I trust in you."

Show someone in your family that you love them today. If your family is not around, then reach out to someone at your church or in your community. Try to follow in the footsteps of love that the Holy Family gave us.

​It took me 26 years to realize being a person of my word is just as important in small matters as bigger ones. 

When I lived in Vermont, Facebook invites were becoming a more popular way to invite people to parties. For those who aren’t familiar, the invite has a “yes,” “no,” and “maybe” option. I told a friend I usually pick “maybe” because I didn’t like to commit. Then, my friend said something that would forever change my life: “Let your ‘yes’ mean yes, and your ‘no’ mean no!”

I jokingly responded, “well, what about my maybes!?” But in that moment, I understood the significance of standing by my word in seemingly trivial matters. 

Of course, as most things in life, it’s easier said than done. That’s illustrated in today’s first reading. We all strive to walk with Christ, but it can be tough when petty differences with our loved ones become a bigger deal, or we have a moment of road rage which bubbles up during a trip across town.

God never expected us to be perfect. Even when we fail, He’s there to pick us up. When God asks us to walk with Him again, we have to stick to our word, and let our “yes” mean “YES!”

What are some small things in your life right now that you can see God working in? How is he speaking to you even in those things?

In what ways in your life can you work harder to be true to the promises you've made? 

Go back and read that first reading from 1 John 2:3-11 one more time. What is God saying to you specifically in those words?

"Come, Lord Jesus."

"Speak to my heart."

​"I want to hear you."

Make it a point to be truthful and honest today, even in small matters. Take that to this prayer time, as well–tell God from the depths of your heart what you're truly feeling, and give him the chance to respond. 

​One of the more unfortunate happenings during the winter season, at least where I live, is that the sun goes down about mid-November and then refuses to come back until late March or early April. In this sad and depressing reality the humble glory of Christmas lights shines forth like a warm beacon of hope to our sully hearts and surroundings while the temperature continues to get colder and colder as if to say no matter how dark it is outside, there is still light that can shine in the darkness no? And if you’re from California or Florida, apologies if this analogy doesn’t sit as well. Enjoy your key lime pies, avocados, and mission-style burritos!

As we continue to celebrate the Christmas season and bask in the afterglow of December 25th, may the message of St. John the Evangelist in today’s first reading speak this truth in a deeper way in your life: “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” Like the lights of Christmas, God Himself is the light that shines in the darkness, and indeed in Him there is no darkness at all. Inasmuch as He has called us to be His sons and daughters, so too must we be the same kind of light in the darkness, a hope for the world that God is the true light of life and in Him alone is there fullness of life.

This sounds pretty easy and even kitchsy at first, but its demands are truly radical. Why? Well, as John lays out, to be a true light requires that we acknowledge our own sins, faults, and failings before God and genuinely strive to give our hearts over to Him so that He may continually wash us clean of these sins, faults, and shortcomings. 

In our current age, this is not something we particularly like to or often feel like we should do. Often we can be tempted to think that in order to be a light to the world we first have to concentrate on what we’re doing, to do the biggest, boldest, and most grandest possible things for the Lord.

Well yes! Of course we should be striving to do everything possibly to show our love for Christ, follow His will, and so be a light to others. Do not, however, forget the fundamental starting point: recognize that God is light and that at all times we are weak and in need of Him.

There is no more fitting time than this Christmas season to accept God’s loving invitation to step into His light and so to be light for others in reflection of Him. Do not be too proud to admit that you need Him. If we want to be a light, we need to walk in the light and if we take these words of St. John to heart today, then we recognize that walking in the light looks like a constant love for God and what He wants for our lives.

“Walk in the light as He is in the light.” AMDG.

Are you still embracing the Christmas spirit?

Is Christmas more than just a day for you?

​How are you being a light to others this week?

"You are the light of the world."

"I want to walk in the light."

"I am rejoicing in the season."

Take some time today to walk or drive around your neighborhood looking at the Christmas lights. Remind yourself about the light of Christ during this season as you see the beautiful decorations shining His glory to the world!