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First Reading: 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 Psalm: Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 5b-6
R (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.
R 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.
R 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.
R Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Gospel Reading: Lk 2:22-35
When the day came for the purification according to the law of Moses, they brought the baby up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to God. And they offered a sacrifice as ordered in the law of the Lord: a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
There lived in Jerusalem at this time a very upright and devout man named Simeon; the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord would comfort Israel, and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So he was led into the Temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law.
Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, saying,
"Now, O Lord, you can dismiss
your servant in peace,
for you have fulfilled your word
and my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you display for all the people to see.
Here is the light you will reveal to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."
His father and mother wondered at what was said about the child. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother, "See him; he will be for the rise or fall of the multitudes of Israel. He shall stand as a sign of contradiction, while a sword will pierce your own soul. Then the secret thoughts of many may be brought to light."
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.
General 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.
