DAILY- HOMILY

February 2, 2018 – FRIDAY, PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Feast. White.

Mal 3: 1 - 4 / Heb 2: 14- 18 / Lk 2: 22- 40

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is also known as Candlemas.

GOSPEL READING:           Lk 2: 22- 40

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 must 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, 0 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 all the nations and the glory of the 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."

There was also a prophetess names Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. After leaving her father's home, she had been seven years with her husband, and since then she had been continually about the Temple, serving God as a widow night and day in fasting and prayer. She was now eighty-four. Coming up at that time, she gave praise to God and spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

When the parents had fulfilled all that was required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to their town, Nazareth in Galilee. There the child grew in stature and strength and was filled with wisdom: the grace of God was upon him.

REFLECTION

Every individual God puts in our lives has a definite purpose. In the Gospel about the Presentation of Jesus God gives such specific roles to key people.

Through the pious man Simeon and the prophetess Anna God makes clear that Jesus indeed is the promised Messiah. Simeon and Anna also remind us of the value of silence and prayer: they devote their lives to prayer before God.

In our fast-paced world, we have little time for quiet and prayer. In their prayer God promised Simeon and Anna that they would see the Messiah. They were richly rewarded, "Now, O Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace, for you have fulfilled your word and my eyes have seen your salvation." (Lk 2: 29)

The Gospel tells us that in silence and prayer we find God.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY 

     Delfin & Josita Abadco

     Jimmy & Francoise Tee

     Hector & Helen Yao 

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     Valentino Chao (14 Feb 7957 - 02 Feb 1983)

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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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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