Reading 1
1 Jn 2:3-11
Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.
Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6
Responsorial PsalmR. (11a)
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Gospel
Lk 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.”
Meditation: Luke 2:22-35
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace.” (Luke 2:29)
What an amazing prayer Simeon makes! He declares that he is now ready to die in peace because he has finally seen the “salvation” he had been waiting for all his life.
But what exactly has Simeon seen? A peasant couple bringing their son to the Temple to offer him to God. A man and a woman doing just as the law prescribed, something that countless other parents had done before them and that countless others will do after them. Such an unpretentious beginning, but somehow Simeon was able to see in this little family the fullness of salvation!
Do you know that you have been privileged to see so much more of God’s salvation than Simeon ever did? You have eyewitness accounts of the life and death and resurrection of this baby, this son of Mary and Joseph, this Son of God. You know the story of how his gospel and his kingdom spread throughout the world, transforming every culture it touched. You are a beneficiary of the church’s perseverance through the centuries. You have the guarantee of Jesus’ presence in the sacraments and of his life-giving word in the Scriptures. Simeon may have been privileged to see Jesus and hold him in his arms, but we have so much more—how can we not rejoice?
There is even more: Besides these general historical truths, every one of us can recite a litany of what God has done for us personally. He brought us into being. He has led and protected us throughout our lives. He has invited us to be his friends. He has joined himself to us in baptism, filling us with his divine, eternal life.
What could be a better or more appropriate response to all these privileges than heartfelt, exuberant praise? How can we help but praise and worship the Lord for all that we have seen and experienced? How can we help but honor and exalt him for all that we know to be true—and even more for all that we know is yet to be?
“Jesus, all praise and glory belongs to your holy name! I am so blessed to have seen your salvation. I am so honored to have received your redemption. I want to sing aloud about your marvelous deeds! Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever!”
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