To hold God in your arms

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Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple

        'suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek' (Malachi 3:1-4)


Today, Mass begins with these words of prayer: 

    Brothers and sisters,  
    forty days have passed since the solemnity of Christmas.  
    Today the Church once again prepares to celebrate the day in which Mary and Joseph 
    presented Jesus in the Temple.  
    With that ceremony our Lord submitted himself to the prescriptions of the old law 
    and came to his people, who waited for him with faith.  
    Guided by the Holy Spirit, 
    the old, holy people Simeon and Anna came to the temple;  
    Illumined by the same Spirit, 
    they recognised the Lord and full of joy gave witness to him.      
    We who also are here united by the Holy Spirit 
    go towards an encounter with Christ 
    whom we find and recognise in the breaking of the bread, 
    while we wait for him to come and manifest himself in his glory. 


Today’s Gospel (Luke 2:22-40) tells of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple and recounts the reactions of an older man and woman, Simeon and Anna, to this baby, Jesus. These two holy ones have waited all their lives for this moment. They have looked for and longed for God, anticipating the salvation of Israel. Listening to the Spirit's prompting, they come once again to the Temple on this day and meet God in the most unexpected way.

I love to pray the Canticle of Simeon each night in Compline - Simeon's prayer of praise when he meets God's salvation in this little child (Luke 2:29-32). 

Have you ever noticed Luke's description of Simeon’s actions? 

            “he took him into his arms and blessed God”  

Imagine this old and devout man holding our Lord in his arms ... 

It's the most natural and human a response to a baby but ...

Simeon is holding God in his old, tired arms !

Just WOW 😮





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