By now the Christmas presents are opened, the cookies and treats are almost gone, and perhaps calm has been restored to the pre-Christmas frenzy. I try to remind myself not to get caught up in the materialism of Christmas. Some days I succeed and some I don’t. Jesus is born! What can be better?

Jesus is truth, he is in all things. Despite this, our world entices us to love worldly things and not the Father. Today’s reading ends with “Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.” Hopefully if our faith is on solid ground we can avoid the enticements. What really matters is what will remain forever. Love of God, family, and friends is forever. The presents, possessions, food and drink will never sustain us for long. God knows and loves us from the beginning; can we love and serve him until forever?

—Jane Glynn-Nass, RN, BSN, serves as Provincial Assistant for Health Care within the Chicago-Detroit and Wisconsin provinces of the Society of Jesus.