5th day within the Octave of Christmas
1 Jn 2:3-11
Lk 2:22-25
Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord.
One of my very dearest Catholic friends and I have a set time early every Friday morning to spend 5-10 minutes in a weekly catch up, and then another 25-40 minutes in our ‘Anchor’ reflecting on the Catholic book we’re reading together, and/or the upcoming Sunday readings.
She chooses a new WORD every year and in early November, she mentioned that she needed to come up with a new word for 2026. A few days later during my morning prayer time, I felt that I, too, needed to ‘come up with’ a word for 2026. A few mornings during my prayer time, I was pondering my word and it struck me that for Catholics, and other Christians, the new year starts with Advent, not on January 1st as it does for the secular world. I then called her and told her to ‘pray fast’ on her word, as November 30th was quickly approaching!
I was excited to decide and define my word for 2026 and spent some time wondering about my new word. In 2025, I never settled on a word, so I wrote down the words I had contemplated a year ago — dwell, trust, shine, light, silent, still. The next Friday, November 28th she shared a few that were ‘in the running’ for her word and I did the same. I told her that I would be at my Adoration hour that evening at 11pm, and would text her the next day on the word I chose.
That evening at Adoration, I journalled as I prayed over those words, asking God to direct me to His word for me. Still undecided, I continued to pray and then I picked up my new Every Sacred Sunday to read the introduction and be ‘ready’ for Sunday. As I read, a few things popped out – the word ‘SURRENDER’. And then a sentence, “God never imposes: He invites”. I began journalling my prayer and wrote, “Standing in awe requires silence – emptying of self, letting go; surrender; full self-giving. Silence of all but breath.” I was concluding that SILENCE would be my word, but as I continued to pray through journalling, I wrote the word surrender again – and then again. “You, Lord, surrendered to love to save me – to give me peace, joy and glorious eternity. And all You ask of me, Lord is that I follow You…and surrender.” And there, I wrote that word again — ‘SURRENDER’.
With a joyful sigh and an ‘I am feeling so loved’ smile, I thanked Him for directing me to a word that I would never have chosen; and I asked Him to please be sure I understood what He means by ‘SURRENDER’ at this season in my life for 2026.
I am not sure what ‘SURRENDER’ will mean for me, but as I write this, we are 10 days into Advent. ‘Surrender’ — I know it will include a bit of daily surrender of my will, but is there a bigger surrender that is quite unknown as of this moment? I don’t know. I am praying with the word in my daily examen as well as bringing it to mind during the day. Where, when and how am I to surrender? Firstly, I needed to realize and admit that it isn’t an easy SILENT action that comes naturally (or happily) to me, but every day as I am praying and journalling, I am more certain of His giving me the word (versus me just choosing a word I like!) and seeing how it is playing out in my thinking and small – very small – actions.
When I read today’s readings for the third or fourth time, I saw it. I saw Mary handing her son back to God in the words of scripture, “Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord”. I saw Mary surrendering her son, her heart, in obedience to our Father. I saw her initial ‘SURRENDER’ to the Angel Gabriel as well, and I let my imagination think about all the small surrenders that Mary must have offered up from that day forward. Knowing that she knew things wouldn’t bode well for her Son in the flesh, yet trusting completely. Surrendering with every step she took with her Son as a child, and even more so, when He began His public ministry. I can’t begin to imagine the surrender she endured, embraced.
SURRENDER.
Lord, help me to embrace surrendering daily to You.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Gina Ulicny)
Prayer: Father God, I do praise Your name. I praise Your perfect will for my life, for every life. Lord, help me to truly surrender to your will at all times, in all aspects of my life. Lord, give me the grace to surrender in silence, with my eyes and heart focused on You and not myself and my feelings.
Thanksgiving: Thank You Father, for allowing me to hear You. Thank You Father, for loving me despite the times I don’t hear, and even ignore, You and Your perfect guidance. I sit in amazement of You.
OXYGEN 
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