"This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to set us free from the hand of our enemies, free to worship him without fear."
Luke 1:73-74
In today’s Gospel, Zechariah marvels at how God swore an oath to Abraham “to set us free… to worship him without fear.” And yet, as so many of us will travel to church either later today or tomorrow morning to worship Jesus and celebrate His birth, I recognize too how not all Christians enjoy this same freedom to worship. I think especially of those in parts of the Middle East or Asia who celebrate Christmas this year without the freedom “to worship him without fear.” Amid our Christmas celebrations, remember those who observe Christmas under persecution and fear. Ask God to gift us with a greater spirit of gratitude for freely worshipping Him without fear this Christmas.
Do I personally know someone in another country who does not enjoy the same freedom to worship that I may have?
Heavenly Father, watch over Christians who celebrate Christmas this year without the same freedom to worship which I enjoy.
Today’s Reflection is by:
Fr. Connor Penn
Did you know...
Fr. Connor Penn is parochial vicar at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Clearwater. Ordained in 2020, Fr. Penn briefly studied journalism before entering the seminary. Fr. Penn grew up in Temple Terrace, attending Corpus Christi Catholic School and later Jesuit High School.
