December 29, 2017
Friday,
Christmas Weekday
1ST Reading: 1 John 2:3-11. Gospel: Luke 2:22-35
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, saying: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)
After Simeon embraced the infant Jesus he said, “Now Lord you may let your servant die in peace for your word has been fulfilled.” Simeon’s story inspires us not to die until we have seen the Messiah, held him in our arms and hugged him tight in joy and thanksgiving. But how can we duplicate Simeon’s experience?
We can experience Jesus through the poor. But must it always be through the poor? Surely many would prefer to experience Jesus in person and not mediated by the poor. But come to think of this: seeing God face to face is tantamount to instant beatific vision. Such is too radiant for our eyes to bear. No mortal being can see God face-to-face and live. Seeing God in the poor is the more appropriate divine encounter we can handle.
Our life is seventy or eighty for those who are strong (Psalm 90:10). If like Simeon we really would want to experience Jesus before we die, let’s hug him in the poor now. Life is short. One day is a thousand years and a thousand years is but one day to the Lord. (2 Peter 3:8).– (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M. Email:[email protected].
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