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Gospel Reading for February 02, 2025 – Luke 2: 22-40
GREAT PRIVILEGE
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus 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:
“Now, Master, you may let your
servant go in peace,
according to your word,
for my eyes have seen
your salvation,
which you prepared
in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for 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.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
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Jesus’ presentation in the temple was a sort of a rite of passage for a boy child to be brought to wholeness of life into the covenant community. In short, the child Jesus was already going through the motions of being integrated into the Jewish society.
Simeon and Anna were given such a GREAT PRIVILEGE to recognize that the boy child that was brought to the temple that very day was to be the Saviour of the world. Simeon even had the privilege to take the child in his arms. What did they have in common? They both awaited the coming of Jesus, perhaps more sincerely and more eagerly than anyone else in Israel.
If we just sincerely and eagerly await the coming of Jesus, not only his second coming, but everyday of our lives, it will not be difficult to recognize him in others, especially in the needy.
Lord Jesus, may we always sincerely and eagerly await your coming into our lives everyday, so we may also have the GREAT PRIVILEGE that was given to Simeon and Anna!
