First reading 1 John 2:3-11
Anyone who loves his brother is living in the light
We can be sure that we know God
only by keeping his commandments.
Anyone who says, ‘I know him’,
and does not keep his commandments,
is a liar,
refusing to admit the truth.
But when anyone does obey what he has said,
God’s love comes to perfection in him.
We can be sure that we are in God
only when the one who claims to be living in him
is living the same kind of life as Christ lived.
My dear people,
this is not a new commandment that I am writing to tell you,
but an old commandment
that you were given from the beginning,
the original commandment which was the message brought to you.
Yet in another way, what I am writing to you,
and what is being carried out in your lives as it was in his,
is a new commandment;
because the night is over
and the real light is already shining.
Anyone who claims to be in the light
but hates his brother
is still in the dark.
But anyone who loves his brother is living in the light
and need not be afraid of stumbling;
unlike the man who hates his brother and is in the darkness,
not knowing where he is going,
because it is too dark to see.
Responsorial Psalm 95(96):1-3,5-6
Gospel Luke 2:22-35
‘You have prepared a light to enlighten the pagans’
When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.’
As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’
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The Holy Spirit guides
“Prompted by the Spirit, Simeon came to the Temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God…” This passage, taken from today’s gospel, highlights how Simeon responded to the gentle prompting of the Holy Spirit, which guided him to encounter Jesus. His strong trust in the Spirit’s guidance shows a readiness that we can all aim for. Just as the Holy Spirit led Simeon to recognise God in the humble form of a baby, He continues to illuminate our paths today. We are invited to remain open to the gentle nudges of the Spirit, encouraging us to seek and recognise opportunities for encountering Jesus in our daily lives. By attuning ourselves to Him, we too can experience transformative moments that deepen our relationship with Jesus.
As Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms, Simeon said, “Now, Master, you are letting your servant go in peace as you promised; for my eyes have seen the salvation…” Like Simeon, we too, with eyes of faith, have seen Jesus. We recognise Him in the breaking of the bread in the Eucharist, we hear Him speaking to us when we pray with the Scripture, and we experience His loving presence in the friendships we share with others. We look forward to the day when we will see Him face-to-face.
Reflective question:
How can I remain open to guidance from the Holy Spirit?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
