MY daily reflection and prayer:
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Christmas Octave
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. Luke 2:22-35
And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
IN the Gospel today we find several important events. First, after Jesus’ birth, Mary fulfills the Jewish rite of purification after childbirth. This rite along with circumcision and the redemption of the first-born point to the fact that children are gifts from God.
Second, In this rite, Mary gives two pigeons as an offering of the poor since Jesus was born in an ordinary home where there were no luxuries. Jesus in was obedient to them and grew in wisdom and grace for his parents raised their son in the fear and wisdom of God.
Third, we read also in the Gospel today, Simeon, a just and devout man who was very much in tune with the Holy Spirit. He encounters with the baby Jesus and his mother in the temple. He immediately recognized this humble child of Bethlehem as the fulfillment of all the messianic prophecies, hopes, and prayers when Joseph and Mary presented the baby Jesus in the temple to Simeon.
Fourth, Simeon blessed Mary and Joseph and he prophesied to Mary about the destiny of this child and the suffering she would undergo for his sake. Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God; but the blessedness also would become a sword which pierced her heart as her Son died upon the cross. And Mother Mary received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow faithfully.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, while worshipping Jesus Christ, we learn to be a devout believer as Mary, Joseph and Simeon. As they have done, we allow Jesus Christ to flood our hearts with his peace, joy, and love.
Ler’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, we offer to you everything we have and desire, our life, family, friends, health, honor, wealth, and future. We will seek your kingdom first. Give us everything we need to know, love, and serve and enjoy you now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
