When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,”
and to offer the sacrifice of “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
Offer
1) Comply with the law: We know that we are all subject to a law, and therefore we must recognize and respect the limits. When we do not accept that we have limits, the rebellion makes us a “liberal”, not a person of “liberty”; freedom itself. The mother of God and Saint Joseph assume responsibility and fulfill the law of the Jewish religion. What an example God gives us: those who could easily escape the law, comply with the laws. What if Mary had skipped over the religious norms because she considered her son, the Son of God, above the rules? She and Joseph did what was required of them. And to think that we even object to going to mass on Sundays! Jesus teaches us that one cannot go through life always doing what they want; we must know that there are limits in our lives.
2) Offer: Offering is key in our Christian lives, since we are called to live and offer to God everything that we receive and do, on a daily basis. Offer to God everything you do and entrust your day and your tasks… it is enough for you to say to God at the day’s dawning: “Everything I do today, I offer it to you” and it is enough to say at night: “Thank you for everything I’ve lived today.” That is offering.
3) A sword: Like Mary, all of us, in this life, are pierced by a sword. The sword of incomprehension, or the sword of impotence; the feeling that we cannot help, or make a change. These are those things that hurt us in the deepest part of our souls, and we feel that possibilities are slipping from our hands. You who are reading or listening to me, surely you have that sword that still makes your heart ache. It hurts! But like Mary, be of good cheer, because you will have eternal life. God is with you.
God-bless you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Remember heaven is our goal !
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