Tuesday 29 December 2025. Readings: 1 John 2:12-17, Ps. 96:7-10, Luke 2:36-40
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life is not of the Father but is of the world.” (1 John 2:15-16)
Our first reading today comes from the hand of St. John, who was nicknamed “the one whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23, 19:26, 20:2, 21:7, 21:20) John describes the futility of loving the world by summarising everything it offers in three boxes: a. The lust of the flesh, b. The lust of the eyes, and c. The pride of life.
According to Pope Francis, these three things correspond perfectly to Jesus’s three temptations. First, Satan told Jesus to turn stones into bread (lust of the flesh). Satan told Jesus to bow to him so he could have all the riches and kingdoms of the world (lust of the eyes). Finally, Satan told Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple so that people might see and worship him (pride of life).
Why do these things hold such a grip on us? Why do most temptations come from these three boxes? According to psychology, these are our natural human desires: bodily satisfaction (food, comfort, pleasure), riches (abundant wealth, security), and respect (worship from others, praise, and honour). Guess what? Since the devil knows how much we desire these things, he never ceases to use them to make us fall. St. James writes, “One is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15).
How did Jesus overcome his temptations? What was His Secret?
One, Jesus knew that we can never satisfy these earthly desires. When the devil suggested that Jesus should turn stones to bread, Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone.” (Luke 4:4). Jesus was hungry; He knew He needed to eat something, but He also knew that no matter how much He ate, He would be hungry again. He reasoned: “Why misuse my powers for something that is only fleeting?” To overcome the lust of the flesh, we must remind ourselves that since our survival does not depend on fulfilling our bodily needs, it is pointless to offend God for them. As the Book of Ecclesiastes states, “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, or the ear filled with hearing.” (Ecclesiastes 1:8). Everything the world offers us is never enough; we are never satisfied.
Two, Jesus knew that true satisfaction comes from worshipping God. As St. Augustine says, “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in God.” Hence, when the devil showed Jesus all the kingdoms and glories of the world and promised to give them in exchange for a bow, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” (Luke 4:8). The cure for the lust of the eyes is giving God the honour and worship that He deserves. In his conversation with the woman at the well, Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14). That water is worship.
As beautiful as the things of this world are, they can never take God’s place in your heart. Yes, they may bring considerable happiness at first, but gradually, the law of diminishing returns sets in. The car you craved begins to look like a carton to you. The beautiful clothes you were ready to die for suddenly become like rags to you. The house you so longed for now looks like a cemetery. This is what St. John means by: “the world and its desire are passing away” (1 John 2:17). However, the joy that comes from serving God remains ever fresh. Why fall in love with something that breaks, reduces in value, goes out of fashion, changes or drains you? Why not give that love to God instead?
Third, Jesus valued God’s applause over human applause. This is the key to overcoming the pride of life. Stop seeking the praise of others; stop playing to the gallery. Your life is not a show. As much as people might not care when you put up a show, some might still doubt you, while others will require you to repeat the show for the rest of your life. When the devil asked Jesus to throw himself down from the pinnacle of the temple, Jesus bluntly refused. Even when Jesus worked miracles, he never did so for the sake of human applause; they were always to address a genuine need, and he warned the people not to publicise them. Yet, some people still doubted Jesus. Listen, no matter what you do (even if you build the most enormous mansion on earth), people will still criticise you. If your pursuit of fame demands offending God, reject it.
In our Gospel passage, we are told the story of Anna, the prophetess. After losing her husband, she dedicated the whole of her life to serving God, never leaving the temple. Anna is a practical example of what St. John was talking about in today’s first reading; she saw the world’s emptiness and stopped loving it. Anna spent her entire life in the temple because she found inner peace in God’s presence.
Anna experienced the peace Jesus spoke about when he said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27). Anna recognised God in the baby Jesus because she was at peace. Do not love the world; it is never enough, it is passing away, and it can never take God’s place in your heart. Be like Anna, love God, seek first His kingdom, and you will find peace, as everything else will be added to you. (cf. Matthew 6:33)
Let us pray: Grant, we pray, almighty God, that the newness of the Nativity in the flesh of your Only Begotten Son may set us free, for ancient servitude holds us bound beneath the yoke of sin. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (6th day within the Octave of Christmas. Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: 1 John 2:12-17, Ps. 96:7-10, Luke 2:36-40)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu