THE FIFTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS - Gospel (Luke 2:22-35) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“This child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel.” (Lk 2:34)

FIRST READING - 1 Jn 2:3-11

"Whoever loves his brother remains in the light."

A reading from the First Letter of John

³ The way we may be sure^[a] that we know him is to keep his commandments. ⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him: ⁶ whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived.

^{[b] 7} Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. ⁸ And yet I do write a new commandment to you, which holds true in him and among you,^[c] for the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. ⁹ Whoever says he is in the light, yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness. ¹⁰ Whoever loves his brother remains in the light, and there is nothing in him to cause a fall. ¹¹ Whoever hates his brother is in darkness; he walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 2:22-35

"My eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples."

✠From the Gospel according to Luke

^22 [a]When the days were completed for their purification^[b] according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, ²³ just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” ²⁴ 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.

²⁵ Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel,^[c] and the holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. ²⁷ 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, ²⁸ he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

²⁹ “Now, Master, you may let your servant go    

in peace, according to your word,

³⁰ for my eyes have seen your salvation,

³¹ which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles,    

and glory for your people Israel.”

³³ The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; ³⁴ 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 ³⁵ (and you yourself a sword will pierce)^[d] so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

THE FIFTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS - Gospel (Luke 2:22-35)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear people of God,

Today's Word of God, God wishes to speak to all humanity about Blessed Mary and Saint Joseph going to the Temple to be purified according to the Jewish custom.

God is God who came into the world to become human. He has complete authority over all creation; He has full power over both the soul and body of humans.

But why must He go to the Temple to be purified according to human custom?

God lets all humanity know that to live in harmony and become human like everyone else, the Son of God Himself had to humble Himself and become similar in form to humankind, except for sin. Therefore, He complied with the Jewish purification custom by being brought to undergo circumcision.

And Blessed Mary was purified according to the Law of Moses.

Although she is the Immaculate One, the One pure in both soul and body, she still humbly obeyed God's command, coming to the Temple to be purified according to human customs. Living among human society, the Son of God and the Blessed Virgin fully complied with its customs and kept the law like everyone else.

He observed every custom established by the Jews. That is why He set a shining example and wanted humanity to know that, living in a society, we must comply with the laws established by society or by humans, so that society may have order, peace, and happiness.

In today’s Word of God, God also makes known to all humanity that there was a man named Simeon who day and night stayed in the Temple, constantly yearning to meet the Son of God who came into the world to become man.

Driven by the Spirit, he went up to the Temple. Just as the parents of the Infant Jesus brought the child to fulfill the custom prescribed by the Law, he took the Infant in his arms and raised his voice in praise, glory, and thanksgiving to God, for the love with which God had allowed him to see God's Christ present on earth with his own eyes.

At the same time, God also allowed the elderly Simeon to prophesy about the sorrow that the Blessed Mother would have to endure, saying: “A sword will pierce your own soul.”

When Blessed Mother Mary heard those words, she only pondered them in her heart, and remained vigilant to live in obedience, vigilant to live according to what God the Father had commanded and called her to do.

It was precisely because of this absolute obedience to God the Father that Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph fulfilled their duties as the mother and foster father of the Son of God on earth.

She faithfully kept God's word in all places and at all times; especially, she always had absolute faith in the Almighty God, the God of love, and believed that God would fulfill His promise.

Today's Word of God also reminds everyone that while living in society on this earth, people should also be vigilant to comply with the customs established by society or by men, to build a nation of love, peace, and happiness.

But above all things, God calls everyone to place the law of love above all other laws, for all things are under the providence of God the Father, and every person's soul is under His control.

Therefore, He calls all humanity to live according to what He has commanded, for God's commandments are always maintained in an orderly and harmonious manner, so that people may have a peaceful and happy life in this world.

Thanks be to God. Amen