Javier Castellanos, LC
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Christ, our King.
Thy Kingdom come!
Preparatory prayer (to put me in the presence of God)
Come, Holy Spirit, kindle your light in our hearts. Make us apostles of Christ who will transmit his name with joy and courage. So be it.
Gospel of the day (to guide your meditation)
From the Holy Gospel according to Luke 2:22-40
When the time of Mary's purification according to the law of Moses had passed, she and Joseph brought the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, according to what is written in the law: Every firstborn male child shall be consecrated to the Lord, and also to offer, as the law says, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now there lived in Jerusalem a man named Simeon, a righteous and God-fearing man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel; in him dwelt the Holy Spirit, who had revealed to him that he would not die without first seeing the Messiah of the Lord. Moved by the Spirit, he went to the temple, and when Joseph and Mary were entering with the child Jesus to fulfill the requirements of the law, Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying: “Lord, now you may let your servant die in peace, as you promised me, for my eyes have seen your Savior, whom you have prepared for the good of all peoples, a light that enlightens the nations and the glory of your people, Israel”. The child's father and mother were amazed at such words. Simeon blessed them, and to Mary, the mother of Jesus, he announced: “This child has been placed for the ruin and revival of many in Israel, as a sign that will provoke contradiction, so that the thoughts of all hearts will be exposed. And you, a sword will pierce your soul.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was a very old woman. As a young woman, she had lived seven years in marriage and was now eighty-four years old. She did not depart from the temple day or night, serving God with fasting and prayer. Hannah approached at that time, giving thanks to God and speaking of the child to all those who were waiting for the deliverance of Jerusalem. When Joseph and Mary had fulfilled all that was prescribed by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their town of Nazareth. The child was growing and becoming strong, he was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was with him.
Word of the Lord.
Meditate on what God tells you in the Gospel
In this passage we can consider the role of three characters in Christ's mission. The first, Simeon, prophetically proclaims that Jesus is the Savior for the whole world, “a light to enlighten the nations”.
In fact, years later Jesus will leave Nazareth to preach the Gospel; in a few years he illuminated the lives of so many men and women of Galilee, Judea and Samaria. And soon after his Ascension into heaven, the Apostles will bring the light of the Gospel to Greece, Egypt and Rome. In this chain, the light has also reached us, the members of the Church who today cover the four corners of the earth.
The second character, Anna, is equally crucial in the progressive dawning of the Gospel. Christ is certainly the light, but he needs other people to transmit it. Anna recognized the light of Christ, and at that very moment, she became a lamp to all who frequented the temple in Jerusalem. “She spoke of the child to all those who were waiting for the deliverance of Jerusalem”.
We are the third character. We have the same mission as Simeon and Anna: to proclaim everywhere the light of Christ, to speak of him to everyone we meet. Most of the time it is not words that are needed, but our own life - the light is best transmitted in the silence of the morning.
«What awakened the song was hope, that hope that sustained them in old age. That hope was rewarded in the encounter with Jesus. When Mary places the Son of Promise in Simeon's arms, the old man begins to sing, he makes a true “liturgy”, he sings his dreams. When she places Jesus in the midst of her people, they find joy. And yes, only that can give us back joy and hope, only that will save us from living in an attitude of survival. Only that will make our lives fruitful and keep our hearts alive. By putting Jesus where he belongs: in the midst of his people».
(Homily of H.H. Francis, February 2, 2017).
Dialogue with Christ
This is the most important part of your prayer, prepare yourself to talk with much love with the One who loves you.
Purpose
Propose a personal one. The one that involves the most love in response to the Beloved... or, if you believe that this is what God is asking of you, live what is suggested below.
Today I will seek to contemplate the Stations of the Cross and pray a prayer of praise to Christ the Redeemer.
Farewell
We thank you, Lord, for all your benefits, you who live and reign forever and ever.
Amen.
Christ, our King!
Thy Kingdom come!
Most prudent Virgin, Mary, Mother of the Church.
Pray for us.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
