Translate

Thursday, February 2, 2023

† ".. My Eyes Have Seen . . . "

 
mornignofferin

†Saint Quote
"Without a doubt, obedience is more meritorious than any other penance. And what greater penance can there be than keeping one's will continually submissive and obedient?"
–St. Catherine of Bologna

†Today's Meditation
"In this valley of tears, every man is born to weep, and all must suffer, by enduring the evils that take place every day. But how much greater would be the misery of life, if we also knew the future evils that await us! 'Unfortunate, indeed, would be the situation of someone who knows the future', says the pagan Roman philosopher Seneca; 'he would have to suffer everything by anticipation'. Our Lord shows us this mercy. He conceals the trials that await us so that, whatever they may be, we may endure them only once. But he didn't show Mary this compassion. God willed her to be the Queen of Sorrows, and in all things like his Son. So she always had to see before her eyes, and continually to suffer, all the torments that awaited her. And these were the sufferings of the passion and death of her beloved Jesus. For in the temple, St. Simeon, having received the divine Child in his arms, foretold to her that her Son would be a sign for all the persecutions and oppositions of men. … Jesus our King and his most holy mother didn't refuse, for love of us, to suffer such cruel pains throughout their lives. So it's reasonable that we, at least, should not complain if we have to suffer something."
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, p. 223

An Excerpt From
A Year with Mary

†Daily Verse
"One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple."
–Psalm 27:4

a1
SaintofDay1

click to read more

asaint.jpg

Listen to the Saint of the Day Here Audio

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Daily Feast

February 2nd is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, or Candlemas. It is based on the Scripture passage in Luke 2:22-40 where the Holy Family journeys to Jerusalem forty days after the birth of Jesus to present him to God and offer sacrifice in the temple. At this time Mary completes the ritual purification required of women after childbirth, and Joseph offers the sacrifice for the redemption of the firstborn, as required by the Law of Moses. The Holy Family offered two turtledoves, permitted to the poor instead of a whole lamb. During their time in the temple Simeon gave his famous prophecy about the Christ Child being a light to the Gentile nations and a sign for the Jews, and that a sword would pierce Mary's soul. On this day the Church has a special ritual involving a procession and the blessing of candles, a symbol of Christ whose birth illumined the world's darkness.

***
adly
***

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Reading I Mal 3:1-4

Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger

to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple

the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.

Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?

And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner's fire,

or like the fuller's lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,

and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver

that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem

will please the LORD,

as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Responsorial Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;

reach up, you ancient portals,

that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?

The LORD, strong and mighty,

the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;

reach up, you ancient portals,

that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?

The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Reading II Heb 2:14-18

Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

Alleluia Lk 2:32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus 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:

"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."
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."
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.
OR:
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus 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:

"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."


agosp
adailycatholic
***

Daily Meditation: Luke 2:22-40

. . . a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel. (Luke 2:32)

Today we celebrate the feast of the Presentation, the day when Mary and Joseph brought their son to the Temple in Jerusalem and dedicated him to God. In some parts of the world, this feast is also known as Candlemas. Candles are blessed at Mass, and there are often candlelight processions, to proclaim that Jesus is the "light for revelation to the Gentiles" (Luke 2:32).

The Gospel for today tells us how Simeon recognized Jesus as the light to the Gentiles and the Messiah who would save Israel. And that recognition caused him to erupt in praise to God.

Simeon's prayer (Luke 2:29-32), called the Nunc Dimittis, is a cherished prayer in the Church's Liturgy of the Hours. It's a song of thanksgiving and praise to God for his faithfulness in sending his Son. Simeon had prayed and waited for many years to see God's salvation. And then, it happened! Finally, he saw Jesus, the Messiah, enter the Temple. Finally, he knew that God had fulfilled his promise. He rejoiced that through Jesus, God's salvation would "reach to the ends of the earth" (Isaiah 49:6). Finally, he could die in peace.

We, too, can rejoice because God's salvation has reached us! It's a good day to give thanks and praise to God, just as Simeon did. It's a good day to remember our baptism, when Jesus shone his light into our hearts. It's a good day to light a candle and rejoice that Jesus the Light has come to us—and to all the world. And it's a good day to let that light of Christ shine to the people around us.

Let's join our voices with Simeon and praise God for sending Jesus! He is the true light that enlightens all people.

"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).

Malachi 3:1-4
Psalm 24:7-10
Hebrews 2:14-18

***
adyn
***

From today's 1st Holy Scripture:
" And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire."

Suddenly things happen, and this is why we are to be prepared. Today we recall the day our Lord enters the temple suddenly. And Simeon was prepared. He was waiting for the Lord. He was, what we could say, constant. And our Lord loves constant people. He loves perseverance. He loves people that are like Him...faithful. He hears their prayers, He hears the prayers of the righteous. He heard Simeon's prayers. He heard Mother Mary's prayers. What makes this life special? The very fact that we are called to do His will. His every beckoning call. To be His. To Be His slaves...of love.

psalms

We pray today;
"Who is this king of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!"
What does "King of Glory" mean? I've heard that our Lord's Glory was on the cross. Who can glory in the Lord, like that? Who can take a blood bath with Him and in Him? The one who can and the one who will...this is important, because the world does not see the light, until the willing soul lives in God as God lives in them.

2cents2

In the Gospel today we heard:
"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."

They say that our Lord as an infant told St. Joseph: "My Father, I came from heaven to earth to be the light of the world and to redeem it from the darkness of sin; to seek and know my sheep as a good shepherd, to give them pasture and food for eternal life, to teach them the way to get there and to open the doors which had been closed due to their sins. I therefore want you both to be children of the light, since you have it so close to you".

What is amazing about light? It gives life. What else? Many things hide in light, the opposite of darkness, but these things are good things, unlike darkness. In them are the offshoots of light, rays of energy, sources and even heavenly, that is celestial beings could exist in light. Even the atheist Hawkins (Lord rest his soul) had believed that beings made of light could exist. But that still makes me confounded....there has to be a source. And here we lead back to our Lord, our God. Jesus transfigures into light. The light enters the temple. They say our body is a temple. He says He wants to reside in our temples, the temples that make up the living temple of our Lord Jesus...the King. With Him, everything is made light. His yoke, His will. Our lives living according to His decrees.

....†....
Lord, today's fruit of the mystery of the Presentation in the Temple is the fruit of obedience. I pray for the whole world to obey you truly, including, and starting with myself.
..........

2cents

click to hear

Random Bible Verse 1
Psalm 34:8

[Psalm 34]

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

***

If one day you don't receive these, just visit Going4th.com
God Bless You! Peace

***
 
 
Powered by
GoDaddy Email Marketing ®