The Gospel for the fifth day in the octave of Christmas is taken from Luke, 2nd chapter 22, 35th verse. 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 and 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. The man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was with 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 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. During the octave of Christmas, we have story after story that focuses on a human being acknowledging and aware of what was really happening with this incredible mystery of God entering into Jesus and living among us.
There is Simeon, there is Anna, there was Herod. And so in each of these stories, we see that there’s a block to believing. And then there’s someone who seems to have come out of nowhere, who has always understood, always known that this was going to happen. And now that it has happened, they were thrilled and open with great joy to what was to be brought to them. It’s such a strong contrast to the institution and to those who were caught up in the law. It’s a reminder that each individual, all of us, need to open our heart to the mystery of what it means to see God finally fully revealed.
Closing prayer Father, during this time, we see the tension between institutions and people who were wedded to the law having a very, very difficult time understanding and believing what was actually being proclaimed by the coming of Christ into the world as the anointed one of God. So bless us with the docility to open our hearts to this mystery and let us know that there is something that we shouldn’t be doing. We should not worry about how it works, but whether or not we are open to the mystery of its existence. God living in me. God living in you. Accomplishing all kinds of things.
It’s a choice. Not so much that we know what it is in terms of how it works, but that we want what it promises. Help us to have the understanding that Simeon possessed so that we can feel the joy that he felt in knowing something marvelous is taking place. And we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
