Wednesday, December 28, 2016
St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr
29 December 2016
Christmas Weekday
St. Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr
White.
1 Jn 2: 3 – 11 / Lk 2:22 – 35
St. Thomas Becket (1118 – 1170), Archbishop of Canterbury, was martyred at the altar of the Blessed Virgin and St. Benedict in his cathedral by agents of King Henry II.
From the 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."
Reflection
The Temple in Jerusalem becomes the center point in today's Gospel reading. Following the law of Moses, the firstborn child Jesus is presented to God and redeemed with an offering of a pair of turtledoves. God fulfills his promise to Simeon that he would not die before he saw the long-awaited Messiah, "the light to the nations and the glory of the people Israel," who will be "a sign of contradiction for the rise or fall of the multitudes of Israel." Mary is warned "that a sword will pierce [her] own soul."
Simeon patiently awaited the coming of the Messiah: he was rewarded with seeing the Messiah as promised by God.
Like Simeon may we have faith in God's promises and hope that God's salvation will be ours.
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
IN MEMORIAM (+)
Fausto Luis Chan
OTHER INTENTIONS:
For the eternal repose of the soul of Rex Owen.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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