THE PRESENCE OF GOD AMONG'ST US! ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Thursday, 29^th December 2016,

Christmas Octave

1 Jn 2: 3-11;

Ps 95: 1-3, 5-6;

Lk 2: 22-35

THE PRESENCE OF GOD AMONG'ST US!

Today, we are given the witness of the prophet Simeon. This holy man was promised by God by a personal revelation that he would actually see, with his own eyes, the Savior of the World. Throughout his life he had anticipated this moment. He longed and hoped for it. And then, one day the moment came. The moment that Mary and Joseph brought their newborn Child into the temple, Simeon knew, in his heart, that this Child was the promised Savior. His words are powerful. He says, “Lord, now You can let Your servant go in peace…for my eyes have seen the salvation You have prepared…” Simeon realized that his life was now complete. He was ready to die because he had now been privileged to actually see the Christ. He held Him in his arms and gave glory to the Father for this moment.

The Child Simeon held was God indeed. But He was God under the veil of the flesh of a little Child. Simeon, nonetheless, saw Him for who He was and rejoiced. We must strive to perceive the presence of the Savior all around us and rejoice with Simeon’s joy. Christ is present in every heart that is given to God, every Sacrament of the Church, every reading of the Holy Scripture, and He is especially present to us within our hearts. Our hearts must be that temple in which we discover the presence of the Christ Child and we must take Him into our lives rejoicing in how close He is. Let us seek out Christ in the same way that Simeon did and ponder the many ways that He is present to us.

Prayer: Lord, I thank You for Your fidelity to Simeon in letting him see You as a little Child. May I always imitate his great faith and seek You all my life, waiting for You to come to me in veiled ways so that my heart may rejoice in Your presence. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.