“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
29th December 2017.
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FRIDAY, CHRISTMAS OCTAVE
Reading 1: 1 Jn 2:3-11 John tells us that we cannot know Jesus unless we are willing to keep his commandments: to love God and to love our neighbour.
Res. Psalm: Ps 95: 1-3,5-6 O sing a new song to the Lord, Proclaim his help day by day, and his wonders among all the peoples.
Gospel: Lk 2: 22-35 Luke tells about the presentation of Jesus in the Temple forty days after his birth, and Simeon predicts that a sword will pierce Mary’s heart.
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THE PRESENCE OF GOD AMONGST US!
Today’s liturgy recalls the recent past and also anticipates the not-too-distant future. Just a few days ago we celebrated the birth of Jesus, and the joyous warmth of the feast will not fade away. In the Gospel, we are given the witness of the prophet Simeon. This holy man was promised by God of 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.
Today’s Entrance Antiphon brings home to us the reason for it all— God’s Son would never have been made flesh at all were it not for the everlasting love of the Father for us: “God loved the world so much, he gave his only Son, that all who believe in him might not perish, but might have eternal life.”Our obligation is to accept the gift and the love that prompted it. If anyone knew how to receive gifts it was Mary, and old Simeon, too. Mary was the first one to receive God’s gift and his love, and she responded with loving trust, total dependency. Simeon the child in his arms and blessed God: …my eyes have witnessed your saving deed displayed for all the peoples to see.
Prayer: Lord, I thank You for the gift of your Son to me and to the whole world. May we accept this gift with our whole hearts. Amen.