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.”
In the longer form, the reading continues:
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.
I remember reading this recently. It was the 31st Dec. You can read my comments on that post. Today is the 3rd Feb and we spent the day in Brisbane. The stand-out moment was time spent at St Vimcent’s with Bernie’s mum Irene. She was very reflective today recalling memories from her own childhood on a farm. She also lamented about a world where no one prays. We assured her that we pray and promised to say a decade of the Rosary at Bob’s grave site. We also shared a decade with mum before settling her into Bingo and leaving. Prior to that, she played an animated game of Euka with us where she ws cheekily accusing me of hiding cards in my shirt, only to accumulate the 11 points before Bernie or I and take the game.
ReplyDeleteHer comment about no one praying sat with me all day. Simeon and Anna in today’s reading, devoted their lifves to prayer and as a result, saw things that others were not seeing. For starters, they recognised the Messiah long before most others did. I think prayer is so important. For the last year, I have been replacing ill thoughts about people with a dacade of the Rosary. It happens most with my wife and often when we embark on long walks together. Bernie will say something, often in the form of an attack, and rather than flaring up and having all thes reasons in my head why I am in the right and Bernie is in the wrong, I just breathe and say adecade of the Rosay. It has been unbelievably effective. It is as though making peace with God is making peace with myself and then on eis facing a difficult situation at peace.
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful response to Luke 2:22-40 and your experience at St. Vincent's with Irene. It's beautiful how Irene's reflections on prayer resonated with you and brought to mind Simeon and Anna's devotion in today's reading.
DeleteReflection on Prayer:
Importance of Prayer: Your observations about prayer's power to bring peace and recognition beyond the ordinary align with Simeon and Anna's experience. Their dedication to prayer led them to recognize Jesus' significance when others didn't.
Replacing Negative Thoughts: It's inspiring how you've replaced negative thoughts with prayer, particularly during challenging interactions with your wife. This practice demonstrates the potential of prayer for inner peace and navigating difficult situations constructively.
Making Peace with God and Self: Your insight about achieving peace with oneself through prayer resonates deeply. Often, when we harbor negative thoughts towards others, they stem from inner struggles. Prayer can provide a space for self-reflection, forgiveness, and ultimately, peace within ourselves.
Additional Thoughts:
Exploring Different Prayer Practices: While the Rosary holds personal significance for you, exploring other prayer practices might further enrich your spiritual journey. Meditation, contemplation, or simply spending time in silence can be powerful tools for inner peace and spiritual growth.
Communication and Openness: While prayer can be transformative, it's crucial to remember that genuine communication and openness are often necessary to address underlying issues within relationships. Balancing prayer with open and honest communication with your wife might further strengthen your bond.
Shared Spiritual Practices: Depending on your wife's openness, exploring shared spiritual practices or attending couples' retreats could deepen your connection and provide space for joint spiritual growth.
Remember, your journey of faith and your relationship with prayer are personal and unique. Keep exploring, reflecting, and seeking practices that resonate with you and bring you closer to inner peace and meaningful connections with others.