Mass Readings and Meditations “The Word among Us” Sunday, 2 February
2014
Meditations: Luke 2: Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for their purification according to the
law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be
designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to
what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;[a]
this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of
Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by
the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s
Messiah.[b] 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon[c] came into the temple; and when
the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under
the law, 28 Simeon[d] took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant[e] in peace,
according to your
word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have
prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your
people Israel.”
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was
being said about him. 34 Then Simeon[f] blessed them and said to his mother
Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many
will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna[g] the daughter of Phanuel, of
the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven
years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She
never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and
day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the
child[h] to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the
Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child
grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Footnotes:
a. Luke 2:25 Gk Symeon
b. Luke 2:26 Or the Lord’s Christ
c. Luke 2:27 Gk In the Spirit, he
d. Luke 2:28 Gk he
e. Luke 2:29 Gk slave
f. Luke 2:34 Gk Symeon
g. Luke 2:36 Gk Hanna
h. Luke 2:38 Gk him
The Presentation of the Lord
… and you yourself a sword will pierce. (Luke 2:35)
Did you know that this day has several celebrations associated
with it, including one that involves a large rodent?
In the Church, today is the feast of the Presentation, the feast
of the Purification of Mary, and even Candlemas, since it’s the day that
churches traditionally bless their candles. Since the Middle Ages, it has also
been observed as Groundhog Day.
How did Groundhog Day get tied into this day of holy feasts?
First for Pagans and, later, Christians, February 2 held a
special significance as representing the crossing of seasons: when people
turned from the weariness of winter and rejoiced in the approaching spring.
Over time, Christian folklore developed a theory that if an animal—a hedgehog
or a badger, for instance—saw its shadow on the feast of the Presentation,
spring would be six more weeks away. German immigrants brought this tradition
to North America, where the groundhog became the weather prognosticator.
In a sense, today’s Gospel reading reveals a similar shift for
Mary. Still in the first days of motherhood, she hears Simeon prophesy that a
sword will pierce her heart. At that moment, she crossed from the joy of new
motherhood to a deeper awareness of the sacrifices that awaited her. We, too,
cross over today: from the celebration of Christmas to the upcoming austerity
of Good Friday, from rejoicing in Jesus’ birth to joining him on the way to
Calvary.
Now is the time to put away your warm memories of Christmas and
begin looking toward the Lenten call to repentance. Just as God provided you
with grace during the winter’s festival, he will give you even more grace to
embrace a season of self-denial.
“Lord, guide me as I turn from the manger to the cross. May this
Lent be a time of renewal!” Amen!
Malachi 3: The Coming
Messenger
1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me,
and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of
the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he
will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the
descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present
offerings to the Lord in righteousness.[a] 4 Then the offering of Judah and
Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former
years.
Footnotes:
a. Malachi 3:3 Or right offerings to the Lord
Psalm 24: 7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O
ancient doors!
that the King of glory
may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and
mighty,
the Lord, mighty in
battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O
ancient doors!
that the King of glory
may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of
glory.Selah
Hebrews 2: 14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and
blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he
might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and
free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of
Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters[a] in
every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the
service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18
Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who
are being tested.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 2:17 Gk brothers
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Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
[Malachi 3: The Coming
Messenger
1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me,
and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of
the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?
For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he
will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the
descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present
offerings to the Lord in righteousness.[a] 4 Then the offering of Judah and
Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former
years.
Footnotes:
a. Malachi 3:3 Or right offerings to the Lord
Psalm 24: 7 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O
ancient doors!
that the King of glory
may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and
mighty,
the Lord, mighty in
battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates!
and be lifted up, O
ancient doors!
that the King of glory
may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of hosts,
he is the King of
glory.Selah
Hebrews 2: 14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and
blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he
might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and
free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16
For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of
Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters[a] in
every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the
service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18
Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who
are being tested.
Footnotes:
a. Hebrews 2:17 Gk brothers
Luke 2: Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for their purification according to the
law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23
(as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be
designated as holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to
what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons.”
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon;[a]
this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy
Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.[b] 27
Guided by the Spirit, Simeon[c] came into the temple; and when the parents
brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28
Simeon[d] took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant[e] in peace,
according to your
word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have
prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your
people Israel.”
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was
being said about him. 34 Then Simeon[f] blessed them and said to his mother
Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many
will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna[g] the daughter of Phanuel, of
the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven
years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She
never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and
day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the
child[h] to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and
became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
Footnotes:
a. Luke 2:25 Gk Symeon
b. Luke 2:26 Or the Lord’s Christ
c. Luke 2:27 Gk In the Spirit, he
d. Luke 2:28 Gk he
e. Luke 2:29 Gk slave
f. Luke 2:34 Gk Symeon
g. Luke 2:36 Gk Hanna
h. Luke 2:38 Gk him]
1. The first reading (Malachi 3:1-4) is a prophecy regarding the
role of John the Baptist. This week at Mass, we celebrate the presentation of
Jesus in the Temple. In what way was John the Baptist also a “presenter” of the
Lord? In what ways are you?
2. In the Responsorial Psalm, this question is continually
asked: “Who is this king of glory?” How would you answer this question?
3. The second reading (Hebrews 2:14-18), speaks of Jesus
conquering sin, Satan, and death. What impact does this truth have in the way
you live your life? What can you do to increase its impact on your life?
4. What role did the Holy Spirit have on the life of Simeon as
told in the Gospel reading? What impact does the Holy Spirit have on your life?
5. What do you think Simeon meant when he said to Mary that a
sword would pierce her soul? How was this prophetic word fulfilled in Mary’s
life?
6. The meditation speaks of the impact the “Presentation of the
Lord” had on Mary:with these words: “Still in the first days of motherhood, she
hears Simeon prophesy that a sword will pierce her heart. At that moment, she
crossed from the joy of new motherhood to a deeper awareness of the sacrifices
that awaited her.” The meditation then goes on to say that “We, too, cross over
today: from the celebration of Christmas to the upcoming austerity of Good
Friday, from rejoicing in Jesus’ birth to joining him on the way to Calvary.”
During this “Ordinary Time” after Christmas, what steps can you take to begin
to prepare for the grace-filled Lenten season?
7. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for the grace to
make the upcoming Lenten season a time of repentance, self-denial, and renewal.
Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as a starting point.
“Lord, guide me as I turn from the manger to the cross. May this
Lent be a time of renewal!” Amen!
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