Sunday<\/p>\n
*Commentary from the Catholic Navarre Bible<\/p>\n
Luke 2:21\u00a0<\/sup>And when eight days were completed [g<\/a>]<\/sup>for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus<\/span>, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.<\/span><\/p>\n 22\u00a0<\/sup>Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him<\/i> to the Lord <\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>(as it is written in the law of the Lord, \u201cEvery male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the<\/span> Lord<\/span>\u201d<\/span>), <\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, \u201cA pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n NC:\u00a0On the meaning and rite of circumcision, cf. note on Lk 1:59. \u201cJesus\u201d means \u201cYahweh saves\u201d or \u201cYahweh is salvation\u201d, that is, Saviour. This name was given the Child not as the result of any human decision but in keeping with the commandment of God which the angel communicated to the Blessed Virgin and to St Joseph (cf. Lk 1:3 1; Mk 1:21).<\/p>\n The Holy Family goes up to Jerusalem to fulfil the prescriptions of the Law of Moses \u2014 the purification of the mother and the presentation and then redemption or buying back of the first-born. According to Lev 12:2-8, a woman who bore a child was unclean. The period of legal impurity ended, in the case of a mother of a male child, after forty days, with a rite of purification. Mary most holy, ever-virgin, was exempt from these precepts of the Law, because she conceived without intercourse, nor did Christ\u2019s birth undo the virginal integrity of his Mother. However, she chose to submit herself to the Law, although she was under no obligation to do so.<\/p>\n Prayer: Monday 29\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cLord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,<\/span> NC:\u00a0\u00a0Simeon, who is described as a righteous and devout man [*which some\u00a0 traditional writings maintain was supernaturally old to allow him to see the ‘Virgin’ conceive] , obedient to God\u2019s will, addresses himself to our Lord as a vassal or loyal servant who, having kept watch all his life in expectation of the coming of his Lord, sees that this moment has \u201cnow\u201d come, the moment that explains his whole life. When he takes the Child in his arms, he learns, not through any reasoning process but through a special grace from God, that this Child is the promised Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, the Light of the nations.<\/p>\n Simeon\u2019s canticle (vv.29-32) is also a prophecy. It consists of two stanzas: the first (vv. 29-30) is an act of thanksgiving to God, filled with profound joy, for having seen the Messiah. The second (vv. 3 1-32) is more obviously prophetic and extols the divine blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men. The canticle highlights the fact that Christ brings redemption to all men without exception \u2014 something foretold in many Old Testament prophecies<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Prayer: <\/p>\n Tuesday 36\u00a0<\/sup>Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; <\/span> 37\u00a0<\/sup>and this woman was<\/i> a widow [i<\/a>]<\/sup>of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God<\/i> with fastings and prayers night and day. <\/span> 38\u00a0<\/sup>And coming in that instant she gave thanks to [j<\/a>]<\/sup>the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.<\/span><\/p>\n NC:\u00a0The Blessed Virgin and St Joseph marvelled not because they did not know who Christ was: they were in awe of the way God was revealing him. Once again they teach us to contemplate the mysteries involved in the birth of Christ…<\/p>\n The words Simeon addressed to Mary announce that she will be intimately linked with her Son\u2019s redemptive work. The sword indicates that Mary will have a share in her Son\u2019s sufferings; hers will be an unspeakable pain which pierces through her soul. Our Lord suffered on the Cross for our sins; and it is those sins which forge the sword of Mary\u2019s pain. Therefore, we have a duty to atone not only to God but also to his Mother, who is our Mother too.<\/p>\n Anna\u2019s testimony is very similar to Simeon\u2019s: like him, she too has been awaiting the coming of the Messiah her whole life long, in faithful service of God; and she too is rewarded with the joy of seeing him; \u201cShe spoke of him,\u201d that is, of the Child \u2014 praising God in her prayer and exhorting others to believe that this Child is the Messiah.<\/p>\n Prayer: <\/p>\n Wednesday 41\u00a0<\/sup>His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. <\/span> 42\u00a0<\/sup>And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. <\/span> 43\u00a0<\/sup>When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And [l<\/a>]<\/sup>Joseph and His mother did not know it;<\/i> <\/span> 44\u00a0<\/sup>but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day\u2019s journey, and sought Him among their<\/i> relatives and acquaintances. <\/span> 45\u00a0<\/sup>So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. <\/span> 46\u00a0<\/sup>Now so it was that<\/i> after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. <\/span> 47\u00a0<\/sup>And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. <\/span> 48\u00a0<\/sup>So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, \u201cSon, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Prayer:<\/p>\n Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come. Thursday Jesus teaches us that over and above any human authority, even that of our parents, there is the primary duty to do the will of God. \u201cAnd, once we are consoled by the joy of finding Jesus \u2014 three days he was gone! \u2014 debating with the teachers of Israel (Lk 2:46), you and I shall be left deeply impressed by the duty to leave our home and family to serve our heavenly Father\u201d (St Josemaria)<\/p>\n Prayer:
\nWe adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee for by Thy Holy Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.<\/p>\n
\nLuke 2:\u00a025\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was<\/i> Simeon, and this man was<\/i> just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. <\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord\u2019s Christ. <\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, <\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAccording to Your word;<\/span>
\n30\u00a0<\/sup>For my eyes have seen Your salvation<\/span>
\n31\u00a0<\/sup>Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,<\/span>
\n32\u00a0<\/sup>A light to bring<\/i> revelation to the Gentiles,<\/span>
\nAnd the glory of Your people Israel.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nLet the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord my strength and my redeemer<\/p>\n
\nLuke 2:\u00a033\u00a0<\/sup>[h<\/a>]<\/sup>And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. <\/span> 34\u00a0<\/sup>Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, \u201cBehold, this Child<\/i> is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against <\/span> 35\u00a0<\/sup>(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n
\nO Lord come to my assistance, O Lord make haste to help me.<\/p>\n
\nLuke 2:\u00a039\u00a0<\/sup>So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own<\/i> city, Nazareth. <\/span> 40\u00a0<\/sup>And the Child grew and became strong [k<\/a>]<\/sup>in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n <\/p>\n
\nNC:\u00a0 [commentary on young Jesus and in the temple]\u00a0\u00a0On pilgrimages to Jerusalem, the Jews used to go in two groups \u2014 one of men, the other of women. Children could go with either group. This explains how they could go a day\u2019s journey before they discovered the Child was missing when the families regrouped to camp.<\/p>\n
\nHoly, Holy, Holy Lord God of Hosts, the whole earth is filled with Thy Glory.<\/p>\n