December 29, 2015
Tuesday, 5th Day in the Octave of Christmas 1st Reading: 1 John 2:3-11. Gospel: Luke2:22-35
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,” 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.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 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. 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, he took him into his arms and blessed God, sa-ying:
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 sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 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 (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the
Assimilated Life Experience)
We should not die until we have seen the Messiah, held him in our arms and hugged him tight in joy and thanksgiving. This is the lesson we get from the story of Simeon.
While Simeon’s story cannot be duplicated because the Messiah will not enter history again, seeing the Messiah before dying is still possible for all who aspire for beatific vision. Simeon’s exercise of faith was at its highest when he recognized a mere infant as Messiah. We can reach the same height in our exercise of faith if we recognize God in the poor. It is actually more manageable this way than seeing God face to face without mediation. Seeing God face to face now that we are still bound to the flesh would mean death. Instant beatific vision would be too radiant for human eyes to bear.
The glaring radiant glory of God is toned down in the woes of humanity so we can still focus our eyes on Him while He lies helpless in the poor and stands defenseless in the innocent. If we do so death will find us already ha-ving embraced the Messiah as death did when it came to Simeon.- Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM. Email:dan.delosangeles@gmail.com.
May comment ka ba sa column ni Father Dan? May tanong ka ba sa kanya?
I-type ang BANDERA REACT <message/ name/age/address> at i-send sa 4467.