Simeon's Prophecy~ Presentation of the Lord

Imagining the story

It is February 2 of the year we name 2, and Mary's time of separation from society is drawing to a close. According to Jewish custom, she was religiously clean a week after giving birth, but thirty-three days of additional separation are required to complete purification observances, ( Eighty day s re customary after the birth of a girl.) Now that Jesus is turning forty days old, he can be brought to Jerusalem for a sacred ritual  that has been celebrated by Mary's and Joseph's families for meany generations. The couple will present their  son to a priest in the majestic temple, the heart of their world, and offer two birds as a living sacrifice.

In your imagination, picture yourself journeying with the family to Jerusalem, pausing on the Mount of Olives at a favorite outlook. Allow yourself to relish the heart-stopping view of the temple, the beauty of its white marble walls and tower gleaming in the sun. You can see why it is one of the architectural wonders of its day, bigger than the biggest Roman palace, longer than six New York City blocks, broader than the future basilica in Trier. Imagine you have a close-up view through modern binoculars of visitors pouring through the temple compound, marveling at the great staircase, archways, gardens, plentiful pools of water defying the desert climate. What do you feel as you ponder the magnificence of this scene? Do you wish that, like the high priest alone, you could enter the Holy of Holies where Yahweh is said to dwell?

Is it conceivable to you that the tiny baby Mary holds in her arms will one day shake this temple to its foundations by exposing corruption, questioning priestly authority, assailing the whole religious establishment for abusing the poor, for animal sacrifice, for their very concept of God? Surely now one could suspect that this innocent baby will be killed for revealing that God is love, and that the authentic temple of God lies in the human heart.

And yet, there is one person with the vision to see what lies ahead: Simeon, a living prophet, and he happens to be in the temple when you arrive with the holy family. Now a very old man, he approaches Mary. How do you imagine him: dressed in rags, bent over, with a craggy face and blazing eyes, or totally different from such and appearance? Watch as he reaches out his hands for the baby, and Mary hands Jesus to him. Simeon recites an exquisite prayer of perfect fulfillment and readiness now known as the Nuc Dimittis or  "Song of Simeon," telling God that his life's purpose has been fulfilled by learning that the Messiah has come in Mary's child. How do you imagine Mary feels listening to Simeon's beautiful affirmation? Simeon echoes God's promise made on the holiest day of her life some ten months ago, when she became pregnant. Simeon's insights resound like a reaffirmation of that message for Mary to cling to should she ever need reassurance about her child's true identity.

What would you like to ask Mary, Joseph  or Simeon?

The Way of Mary Following Her Footsteps Toward God    Mary Ford-Grabowsky

The Ascension of the Lord



In the first book, Theophilus,
I dealt with all that Jesus did and taught
until the day he was taken up,
after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit
to the apostles whom he had chosen.
He presented himself alive to them
by many proofs after he had suffered,
appearing to them during forty days
and speaking about the kingdom of God.
While meeting with them,
he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,
but to wait for "the promise of the Father
about which you have heard me speak;
for John baptized with water,
but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."

When they had gathered together they asked him,
"Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He answered them, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons
that the Father has established by his own authority.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,
throughout Judea and Samaria,
and to the ends of the earth."
When he had said this, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.
While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,
suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.
They said, "Men of Galilee,
why are you standing there looking at the sky?
This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven
will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven."

(Acts 1:1-11)

Baptism of the Lord

And a voice came from the heavens,
"You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased."(from Mark 1:7-11)

In smaller and bigger ways, this is something we all long to hear:  with you I am well pleased.  Yet, desiring to hear it from a human voice is not what our soul is listening for. 

Spend some time today marveling in the fact that you are a child of God and that He indeed is well pleased with you.  Who knows?  The Spirit may surprise you and whisper those words to you while you sit and ponder this tremendous gift.

Transfiguration of the Lord

From a sermon on the transfiguration of the Lord by Anastasius of Sinai, bishop

Upon Mount Tabor, Jesus revealed to his disciples a heavenly mystery. While living among them he had spoken of the kingdom and of his second coming in glory, but to banish from their hearts any possible doubt concerning the kingdom and to confirm their faith in what lay in the future by its prefiguration in the present, he gave them on Mount Tabor a wonderful vision of his glory, a foreshadowing of the kingdom of heaven. It was as if he said to them: “As time goes by you may be in danger of losing your faith. To save you from this I tell you now that some standing here listening to me will not taste death until they have seen the Son of Man coming in the glory of his Father.” Moreover, in order to assure us that Christ could command such power when he wished, the evangelist continues: Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter, James and John, and led them up a high mountain where they were alone. There, before their eyes, he was transfigured. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Then the disciples saw Moses and Elijah appear, and they were talking to Jesus.

These are the divine wonders we celebrate today; this is the saving revelation given us upon the mountain; this is the festival of Christ that has drawn us here. Let us listen, then, to the sacred voice of God so compellingly calling us from on high, from the summit of the mountain, so that with the Lord’s chosen disciples we may penetrate the deep meaning of these holy mysteries, so far beyond our capacity to express. Jesus goes before us to show us the way, both up the mountain and into heaven, and – I speak boldly – it is for us now to follow him with all speed, yearning for the heavenly vision that will give us a share in his radiance, renew our spiritual nature and transform us into his own likeness, making us for ever sharers in his Godhead and raising us to heights as yet undreamed of.

 

Let us run with confidence and joy to enter into the cloud like Moses and Elijah, or like James and John. Let us be caught up like Peter to behold the divine vision and to be transfigured by that glorious transfiguration. Let us retire from the world, stand aloof from the earth, rise above the body, detach ourselves from creatures and turn to the creator, to whom Peter in ecstasy exclaimed: Lord, it is good for us to be here.

 

It is indeed good to be here, as you have said, Peter. It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here for ever. What greater happiness or higher honour could we have than to be with God, to be made like him and to live in his light?

 

Therefore, since each of us possesses God in his heart and is being transformed into his divine image, we also should cry out with joy: It is good for us to be here – here where all things shine with divine radiance, where there is joy and gladness and exultation; where there is nothing in our hearts but peace, serenity and stillness; where God is seen. For here, in our hearts, Christ takes up his abode together with the Father, saying as he enters: Today salvation has come to this house. With Christ, our hearts receive all the wealth of his eternal blessings, and there where they are stored up for us in him, we see reflected as in a mirror both the first fruits and the whole of the world to come.

 

From The Liturgy of the Hours, Vol IV

Lauda Sion

Here the new law’s new oblation, When the sacrament is broken,

By the new king’s revelation,

Ends the form of ancient rite:

Now the new the old effaces,

Truth away the shadow chases,

Light dispels the gloom of night.

What he did at supper seated,

Christ ordained to be repeated,

His memorial ne’er to cease:

And his rule for guidance taking,

Bread and wine we hallow, making

Thus our sacrifice of peace.

This the truth each Christian learns,

Bread into his flesh he turns,

To his precious blood the wine:

Sight has fail’d, nor thought conceives,

But a dauntless faith believes,

Resting on a pow’r divine.

Here beneath these signs are hidden

Priceless things to sense forbidden;

Sign, not things are all we see:

Blood is poured and flesh is broken,

Yet in either wondrous token

Christ entire we know to be.

Whoso of this food partakes,

Does not rend the Lord nor breaks;

Christ is whole to all that taste:

Thousands are, as one, receivers,

One, as thousands of believers,

Eats of him who cannot waste.

Bad and good the feast are sharing,

Of what divers dooms preparing,

Endless death, or endless life.

Life to these, to those damnation,

See how like participation

Is with unlike issues rife.

Doubt not, but believe ‘tis spoken,

That each sever’d outward token

Doth the very whole contain.

Nought the precious gift divides,

Breaking but the sign betides

Jesus still the same abides,

Still unbroken does remain.

Lo! the angel’s food is given

To the pilgrim who has striven;

See the children’s bread from heaven,

Which on dogs may not be spent.

Truth the ancient types fulfilling,

Isaac bound, a victim willing,

Paschal lamb, its lifeblood spilling,

Manna to the fathers sent.

Very bread, good shepherd, tend us,

Jesu, of your love befriend us,

You refresh us, you defend us,

Your eternal goodness send us

In the land of life to see.

You who all things can and know,

Who on earth such food bestow,

Grant us with your saints, though lowest,

Where the heav’nly feast you show,

Fellow heirs and guests to be.  Amen.  Alleluia.



Laud, O Zion, your salvation,

Laud with hymns of exultation,

Christ, your king and shepherd true:

Bring him all the praise you know,

He is more than you bestow.

Never can you reach his due.

Special theme for glad thanksgiving

Is the quick’ning and the living

Bread today before you set:

From his hands of old partaken,

As we know, by faith unshaken,

Where the Twelve at supper met.

Full and clear ring out your chanting,

Joy nor sweetest grace be wanting,

From your heart let praises burst:

For today the feast is holden,

When the institution olden

Of that supper was rehearsed.

Annunciation of the Lord

From a sermon by Blessed Guerric of Igny

The solemnity of the Lord's annunciation providentially interrupts the days of our Lenten observance, so that we are able to refresh ourselves with spiritual joy in the midst of the physical austerities which weigh so heavily on us.  Having been humbled by penitential sorrow, we are now encouraged by the announcement of the one who takes away the sins of the world.  This is just what scripture says:  Grief makes the heart heavy, but a kind word makes it glad.

It is indeed a kind word, a reliable word in which you can believe, this gospel of our salvation which the angel sent by God announced to Mary on this day.  Itis a joyful word which day utters to day, the angel to the Virgin, concerning the incarnation of the Word.  It promises a son to the Virgin, and at the same time pardon to sinners, redemption to captives, release to the imprisoned, life to those in the grave.  In foretelling the Son's kingdom and announcing the glory of the righteous it makes hell fearful and gives joy to heaven.  By the revelation of these mysteries and by the new joys it brings them, it seems to have increased the perfection of the angels.

Is there an afflicted person who would not be cheered by this kind word, or anyone whose lowliness it would not console?  Remember your word to your servant by which you gave me hope, sang David.  It was this which consoled me when I was brought low.  He received only a promis, a word which did not show any sign of coming true.  The delay in the fulfillment of his desire distressed him, but he took comfort by hoping firmly in the good faith of the one who had made the promise.  If David could sustain his spirit with just the hope of the salvation which was being kept for us, with what joy and delight ought we not to greet its realization?

Blessed are the mourners because they shall be comforted; blessed those whose hearts are afflicted by a holy grief because they shall be gladdened by a kind word.  Clearly the kind word which consoles is your all-powerful Word, O Lord, which came today from the heavenly throne into the womb of a virgin.  There, too, he made a royal throne, and thence he consoles those who mourn on earth even while he sits as king surrounded by the host of angels in heaven.

From A Word in Season

Monastic Lectionary for the Divine Office

IV, Sanctoral



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...

(Luke2:22)

Today we celebrate the Presentation of Our Lord.  Our Mass began with our gathering in the atrium for the Blessing of Candles followed by a procession into Chapel.  Today's feast has also been referred to as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary or Candlemas Day, referring to the day on which candles are blessed symbolizing Chirst who is the light of the world.

Today is also the World Day for Consecrated Life.  Instituted in 1997 by Pope John Paul II, it was day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life.  In parishes throughout the United States this day will be transferred to Sunday in order to highlight the gift of consecrated person for the whole Church.

Please remember in prayer all men and women who have consecrated their lives to Christ and serve Him and His Church.

Heavenly Father,

we thank you for the gift of consecrated life in the Church.

May all those who dedicate themselves in service to You

experience an ever deepening awareness

of Your presence in their lives.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen. 

The Baptism of the Lord

It's always amazing what one "hears for the first time" -- especially when it's something that heard many times before.  That is the way it was the other morning at Vigils during the second reading from a commentary on the Gospel of John by St. Cyril of Alexandria, bishop.

Until I "heard" this portion of the reading, I guess I never really thought about why Jesus was baptized by John.  It said it in the scripture and so therefore it was important.  The following portion of the text is worth pondering -- and giving God praise for His manifold mercy.

Christ "received the Spirit" in so far as he was man, and in so far as man could receive the Spirit.  He do so in such a way that, thought he is the Son of God the Father, begotten of his substance, even before the incarnation, indeed before all ages, yet he was not offended at hearing the Father say to him after he had become man:  You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

The Father says of Christ, who was God, begotten of him before the ages, that he has been "begotten today," for the Father is to accept us in Christ as his adopted children.  The whole of our nature is present in Christ, in so far as he is man.  So the Father can be said to give the Spirit again to the Son, though the Son possesses the Spirit as his own, in order that we might receive the Spirit in Christ.  The Son therefore took to himself the seed of Abraham,  as Scripture says, and became like his brothers in all things. 

 (Source:  The Liturgy of the Hours, Volume I  - Advent Season, Christmas Season; Thursday after Epiphany to Baptism)