Presentation of the Lord February 2, 2019
Reflection on the WORD
Longings - Faith: In today’s Gospel, Prophet Simeon was filled with joy, when he saw the child Jesus, the Messiah he had been waiting for so many years. What are our deepest desires and dreams? Is the Love of God our deepest desire and dream? If not what are they?
Lk 2:22-25a,26-32
When the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord - observing what is written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord - and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is prescribed in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said: Now, Master, you are letting your servant go in peace as you promised; for my eyes have seen the salvation which you have made ready in the sight of the nations; a light of revelation for the gentiles and glory for your people Israel.
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- •Joseph and Mary though poor, observed the Jewish law and took Jesus to the Temple to present Him to the Lord.
- •Their obedience to the Law reminds us to reflect on whether we as Catholic Christians also observe our Church’s obligations. Do we have reverence to the providence of God working through the institutional Church He set up from the time of the Apostles?
- •Let us pray to the Holy Spirit for the wisdom to follow the exemplary lives of the Holy Family, so that our faith journey will be a continuous song of praise, reverence and service of God’s Will in our lives.