Gospel: December 29, 2023
(Friday)
5th Day in the Octave of Christ
St. Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 96: 1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
1st Reading: 1 John 2: 3-11
Gospel: Luke 2: 22-35When the day came for the purification according to the law of Moses, they brought the baby up to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to God. And they offered a sacrifice, as ordered in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
There lived in Jerusalem, at this time, a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel; and he had been assured, by the Holy Spirit, that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So, he was led into the temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law.
Simeon took the child in his arms, and blessed God, saying, “Now, O Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace, for you have fulfilled your word and my eyes have seen your salvation, which you display for all the people to see. Here is the light you will reveal to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.”
His father and mother wondered at what was said about the child. Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Know this: your son is a sign; a sign established for the falling and rising of many in Israel, a sign of contradiction; and a sword will pierce your own soul, so that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.”
Reflection:“Obey God’s will and listen to the Spirit.”
Today’s first reading begins with a question that many people today share: How can we know that we know God? We want to grow in our relationship with God. We want to know and love the God who made us and who saves us., but how can we be sure that we know God? In the first Letter of John, the answer is simple. We know that we know God if we obey his commandments. The Gospel gives us more information. Simeon, who followed God’s commandments throughout his long life, is told by the Holy Spirit that he will see the Messiah. The Holy Spirit then leads Simeon to the temple where he encounters Jesus.
So what do these readings mean for us? They teach us that we can encounter God by striving to discern his will and conform our lives to his plan. We should also allow ourselves to be docile to the Holy Spirit working in our lives and showing us the way we should go. If we obey God’s will and listen to the Spirit, we will encounter the Lord and know him truly.
