Wednesday December 29

 

 

5TH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS

 

A LIGHT FOR ALL THE NATIONS 

 

Introduction

God comes to his temple today as if incognito, as a child carried in the arms of its mother. Simeon, the old man in the Temple, took Jesus in his arms and recognized this child as the Savior expected by the Jews in the Old Testament but also as the salvation of all people. In him the old Israel can fade away in peace. This child was to be the glory of Israel, yes, but also the light to enlighten pagans, everyone. He comes to us now not merely to be the light of us Christians. He does not belong to us alone but to all. St John tells us how to reflect the light of Christ: all those who love their neighbor are living in the light.

 

Opening Prayer

God, Father of light,

the old man Simeon recognized your Son

as the light that would shine on all.

May we too recognize Jesus,

even if he comes to us in a humble way,

in the shape and person of children,

of old people, of the poor and the little ones.

Make us receive him too

as the light not only of our lives

but as the bright dawn for all nations.

For you are the Father of all

and Jesus belongs to all as their Savior and Lord,

now and for ever.

 

Reading 1: 1 JN 2:3-11

Beloved:

The way we may be sure that we know Jesus

is to keep his commandments.

Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commandments

is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

But whoever keeps his word,

the love of God is truly perfected in him.

This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:

whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

 

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you

but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.

The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

And yet I do write a new commandment to you,

which holds true in him and among you,

for the darkness is passing away,

and the true light is already shining.

Whoever says he is in the light,

yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.

Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,

and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.

Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;

he walks in darkness

and does not know where he is going

because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

 

Responsorial Psalms: Ps 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 5B-6

(11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Sing to the LORD a new song;

sing to the LORD, all you lands.

Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Announce his salvation, day after day.

Tell his glory among the nations;

among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

The LORD made the heavens.

Splendor and majesty go before him;

praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.

Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

 

Alleluia: LK 2:32

Alleluia, alleluia.

A light of revelation to the Gentiles

and glory for your people Israel.

Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Gospel: LK 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification

according to the law of Moses,

the parents of Jesus 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 Christ 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:

“Lord, now let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled:

my own eyes have seen the salvation

which you prepared in the sight of every people,

a light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of 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.”

 

Intercessions

–    For all parents who take their children to church for baptism, that God may bless them and their children, we pray:

–    For all parents who suffer when their children bring sorrow on them, that they may keep trusting in the Lord, we pray:

–    For all peoples who come to know Christ, that they may accept him as their joy and life, we pray:

 

Prayer over the Gifts

Loving God,

a humble piece of bread and a little wine

are enough to let Jesus come among us.

Enliven these simple gifts with your Spirit,

that we may welcome among us

him who enlightens all nations

with his joy and the bright morning

of true justice and deep commitment

of loving service, a sense of compassion

and a boundless generosity,

Jesus, the Savior of all and our Lord.

 

Prayer after Communion

God of light,

we have sat at the festive table

of him who came to unite all peoples far and near

as brothers and sisters

who can love and accept one another,

notwithstanding all their differences

of race and culture,

of social standing and personality.

Make us believe and practice

that this is only possible

in him who became one of us all

and who laid down his life for all,

Jesus Christ, our Lord.

 

Blessing

May the Holy Spirit rest also on us, that we accept and recognize Jesus as the Lord and Savior of everyone and the light that brightens the lives of all. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

 

Commentary

“Now I can die!” Here at the end of the year stands the serene figure of Simeon, in vivid contrast to the tortured Herod, slayer of the Innocents. Herod’s death became legendary for its awfulness. But Simeon can teach us how to approach death: how not to see it as an enemy, “the prince of terrors,” how not to define it as the destruction of life, but to welcome it as a culmination, a completion. If we have not lived fully, we will be terrified of death. If Simeon could approach death so beautifully, he must have lived a deep life: unlike Herod, he must have fought the war within, and come to peace with himself, with others and with God. “Now, Lord, you can let your servant go in peace.” Simeon’s canticle, the Nunc Dimittis, is part of the Night Prayer of the Church. It is a beautiful closing of the day: a lesson in how to end things, how to take one’s leave….