Presentation of the Lord
José David Parra, L.C.
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)
I believe, Lord, but increase my faith; I trust in You, Lord, strengthen my hope; I love You, Lord, help me to love You more and more. Grant, Lord, that I may live and die in your holy presence; that I may sleep and rise always in your holy Will.
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 took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, according to what was written in the law: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord, and also to offer, as the law says, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
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 prescriptions of the law, Simeon took him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Lord, you may now 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 father and mother of the child 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 came 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 the law of the Lord prescribed, they returned to Galilee, to their town of Nazareth. The child was growing and becoming stronger, 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
God, out of His love for man, promised to send him a Savior who would free him from the slavery of sin. Thus, when the fullness of time had come, God sent his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, so that he might enlighten those who dwelled in darkness, announce salvation to them and bring them redemption through his death and resurrection.
The «light that enlightens the nations» (Lucas 2:32), is the same light that emanates from the Heart of Christ, who through his immense love for us, illuminates our lives, so that we may be free from all darkness and slavery that comes from sin and may walk hand in hand with him to the safe harbor of salvation.
We could consider our life as a journey towards God; a journey that requires a constant and conscious effort towards a desired goal: heaven; with a clear motivation: the Love of God; and a generous surrender of my day by day, trusting in His Divine Providence, who loves me and knows what is best for me and for the salvation of my soul.
Like Simeon and Anna, the Lord wants to show us through Jesus Christ his unfathomable love and eternal mercy. Let us allow ourselves to be guided by his divine spirit which sanctifies all who seek him with a sincere heart.
«Mary and Joseph, the young, meet Simeon and Anna, the elderly. What does this teach us? First of all, that we too are called to receive Jesus who comes to meet us. To encounter him: the God of life must be encountered every day of our existence; not once in a while, but every day. Following Jesus is not a decision to be made once and for all, it is a daily choice. And the Lord is not encountered virtually, but directly, by discovering him in life, in the concrete of life. Otherwise, Jesus becomes a beautiful memory of the past. But when we welcome him as the Lord of life, the center of everything, the beating heart of all things, then he lives and revives in us.»
(Homily of H.H. Francis, February 2, 2019).
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.
On this day of religious life, I will ask the Lord for holy vocations who are ready to reveal the love and light of his Heart; I also ask for all those religious who are most in need at this time.
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.
