Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 2, 22-35
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him 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 Christ 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:
“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of 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 the law, and therefore we must recognize and respect them. When we do not accept that we have restrictions, and we rise up against the rules, we become rebels. The mother of God and Saint Joseph accept their responsibility and fulfill the law of Jewish religion. What an example God gives us! Those who could easily escape the law, comply with it. What if Mary had skipped 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 we 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 God everything you do and entrust your day and your tasks. It is enough for you to say to God in the morning: “Everything I do today, I offer to you” and it is enough to say at night: “Thank you for everything I’ve lived today.” That is an offering.
3) A sword. Like Mary, all of us, in this life, are pierced by a sword. The sword of incomprehension, the sword of impotence, the feeling that we cannot help or make a change. These are those things that hurt us deep in our soul, and we feel that possibilities are slipping through our fingers. Perhaps you have that sword that is still making your heart ache. How it hurts! But like Mary, be patient and praise the Lord, 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!
