Feb. 2, 2015 Monday: Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
Feb. 2, 2015 Monday: Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
1. Preparation
I pause for a moment and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me, creating me in his image and likeness, making me his temple....
2. Today's Scripture
The Word of God
Luke 2:22-40
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 firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant 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 the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
3. Reflection (Word Among Us, www.wau.org)
Do babies ever get switched at birth? There have been times when a baby was accidently given to the wrong family at the hospital. It’s rare, especially now that many hospitals have special procedures in place to reduce such risks, but mistakes still happen. Sometimes, even the parents can’t spot their own child in a crowded nursery!
So imagine the challenge that poor Simeon had. He spent years at the Temple waiting for a special baby that he had never met. And he had no idea what that baby would look like. All he knew was that he would not die before he had laid eyes on Israel’s Messiah.
But Simeon wasn’t in too helpless a situation. He had a secret helper who could point out the Messiah no matter how crowded the Temple became. So as Simeon scanned the faces and waited to catch a glimpse of the promised One, he knew that the Holy Spirit would nudge him toward just the right person. Patiently he waited. Carefully he looked. And trustingly he listened.
The Holy Spirit is doing the same thing for us today that he did for Simeon so long ago. And he’s doing it on a much larger scale. Back then, he helped Simeon spot the Messiah in the face of one infant. But today, he is helping us see Christ in the eyes of every person we meet. He is helping us see the dignity and value of everyone around us because they all bear the image and likeness of Christ. Whether it’s the new baby crying loudly during Mass on Sunday, the reclusive neighbor down the street, the co-worker with the offensive political views, or the kindly cashier at the market—each of them reflects the Lord in one way or another. Each of them is a unique revelation of who God is and how he works. And that means each of them is worthy of your respect.
May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see Christ today.
4. Prayer
“Lord, help me take time to look into the faces of your people today. Teach me to value each person as a child of God.”
1. Preparation
I pause for a moment and think of the love and the grace that God showers on me, creating me in his image and likeness, making me his temple....
2. Today's Scripture
The Word of God
Luke 2:22-40
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 firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant 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 the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
3. Reflection (Word Among Us, www.wau.org)
Do babies ever get switched at birth? There have been times when a baby was accidently given to the wrong family at the hospital. It’s rare, especially now that many hospitals have special procedures in place to reduce such risks, but mistakes still happen. Sometimes, even the parents can’t spot their own child in a crowded nursery!
So imagine the challenge that poor Simeon had. He spent years at the Temple waiting for a special baby that he had never met. And he had no idea what that baby would look like. All he knew was that he would not die before he had laid eyes on Israel’s Messiah.
But Simeon wasn’t in too helpless a situation. He had a secret helper who could point out the Messiah no matter how crowded the Temple became. So as Simeon scanned the faces and waited to catch a glimpse of the promised One, he knew that the Holy Spirit would nudge him toward just the right person. Patiently he waited. Carefully he looked. And trustingly he listened.
The Holy Spirit is doing the same thing for us today that he did for Simeon so long ago. And he’s doing it on a much larger scale. Back then, he helped Simeon spot the Messiah in the face of one infant. But today, he is helping us see Christ in the eyes of every person we meet. He is helping us see the dignity and value of everyone around us because they all bear the image and likeness of Christ. Whether it’s the new baby crying loudly during Mass on Sunday, the reclusive neighbor down the street, the co-worker with the offensive political views, or the kindly cashier at the market—each of them reflects the Lord in one way or another. Each of them is a unique revelation of who God is and how he works. And that means each of them is worthy of your respect.
May the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see Christ today.
4. Prayer
“Lord, help me take time to look into the faces of your people today. Teach me to value each person as a child of God.”
