Daily Reflection for Tuesday February 02, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Tuesday's readings at this link:
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020221.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Responsorial: Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 OR 2:22-32
Our reflection on Tuesday’s readings:
"Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” Luke 2:29-32
Simeon, filled with the Holy Spirit, took Jesus into his arms, and proclaimed that Jesus is the salvation and light for the Gentiles. When our first daughter was born, I was in the delivery room when the obstetrician's nurse handed me our swaddled child. Immediately my heart stopped, and my knees started to buckle. I had held my siblings when I was a child, but this was overwhelming. Somehow, I managed a breath, caught myself from collapsing, and felt the love of our newborn open my heart. Can you imagine what Simeon felt as the promise of the Holy Spirit was fulfilled, and he held the Son of God in his hands? I may not be as righteous and devout as Simeon, but if I imagine myself holding the child Jesus, the Son of God, who would be the redemption of the world, I am overwhelmed. But Simeon, standing firm in faith, answers Malachi's question: "...who can stand when he appears?" Malachi 3:2
In this Gospel story, both Simeon and the prophetess Anna are guided by the Holy Spirit to Jesus, this child of Mary, the savior of the world. Both speak prophetically of the child. This fulfills the prophecy from our first reading, "And the Lord whom you seek will come suddenly to his temple..." Malachi 3:1
Luke's account of Jesus' presentation in the temple depicts Mary and Joseph as devout Jews, faithful observers of the religious law. Simeon and the prophetess Anna are filled with the Holy Spirit, devout, and prayerful. They appear as Old Testament prophets, bearers of the covenant promise. The lesson here is that to know Jesus, we need to emulate these saints' lives and turn our focus from the world to Jesus.
May we emulate the saints in our gratefulness for the Lord's blessings.
Love and Blessings,
Deacon John McShea