Saturday, December 29, 2007

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas


And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: As it is written in the law of the Lord: Every male opening the womb shall be called holy to the Lord: And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons: And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him. And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; Because my eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.
Luke 2:22-35 (Douay-Rheims Bible)

Prayer Reflection

Dear Father your servant Simeon spoke some powerful words through the Holy Spirit concerning your Jesus. There has been much that has touched me in these readings and none are more clear than the last words spoken by this man. "Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; and thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed." 34-35 We often don't think too much on this but guaranteed our thoughts are revealed. Just as the you know our thoughts dear Father, so also does your Son. We tend to forget this in our everyday lives. And our thoughts can often pierce the heart of our dear Mother and wound her tender mercy for us when we fail to love you first in our heart. Our deepest and darkest thoughts often come to light when we open our hearts to reveal the truth that lies deep within. May we come to reconcile what we have buried deep in the heart of our Mother, the sword that pierces her heart, that of our sins. Amen

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