December 29, 2023 Reflection – The Presentation of the Lord in the Temple
The parents of Jesus took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord December 29, 2023 Dear Family of Mary! Our Gospel for today is the account of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. Let’s read the account. It is important to listen to everything that Simeon says about Jesus. Simeon speaks prophetic words to about Jesus and about Mary. He has been praying for the coming of the Messiah for many years, and knows at once it is Jesus! Gospel according to 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.” The Gospel of the Lord. Our Lady presented Jesus to Simeon long ago. Simeon confirmed everything about Jesus that the Gabriel had told Mary at the Annunciation. It was a powerful moment for Our Lady. Now she is bringing Jesus to us! In Medjugorje she presents Jesus to all of us on Christmas Day. But since we are not prophets like Simeon, she has to educate us about her Son. She told us early on, in 1985, to glorify Jesus and His Nativity. This is how we begin to understand Him: December 12, 1985 “Dear children! For Christmas my invitation is that together we glorify Jesus. I present Him to you in a special way on that day and my invitation to you is that on that day we glorify Jesus and His nativity. Dear children, on that day pray still more and think more about Jesus. Thank you for having responded to my call.” We are still in the Christmas time. Let’s glorify Jesus and His Nativity today, and pray and think more about Jesus today! We need Him so badly!! Pray and glorify the Lord!! St. Simeon, pray for us! In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph Cathy Nolan (c) Mary TV 2023