Reflection for Wednesday December 29, Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord: Luke 2:22-35

Gospel: Luke 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.”

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Reflection:

Do you know how it feels to hope on nobody but the Lord Jesus? Simeon the man from Jerusalem certainly knew this unique feeling, he was already ready to go out if this world upon seeing the child Jesus. His hope and salvation rested on nobody but Jesus, is Jesus the Hope and Salvation of your life? 

Simeon was searching for Jesus and guided by the Holy Spirit he was able to find Jesus in the temple being offered to God by his parents. Do we search for Jesus and do we thirst for Him? We will certainly find Jesus when we search and thirst for Him.   

But many of us don’t even bother to search for Jesus and we hardly have time for Jesus. So what happens to our life? We have so many fears in life; the fear of dying, the fear of sickness and we also have no more fear of sin. Simeon in our gospel reading is not fearful of anything even death! He is even ready to die already for he already found Jesus.  

As we continue our journey in this world we will be going after so many worldly things such as riches, power, higher learning and so forth. All of these worldly things will not give us peace of mind these things may even disturb our mind.  

For a change, why not stop going after these worldly things and instead begin our search for Jesus? He’s just around the bend waiting for us. – Marino J. Dasmarinas 

You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:13