:: Faith Today ::
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Tuesday Feb. 2, 2010
News and Inspiration :: Today's Mass :: Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours) :: Saintly Example :: Holy Father's and other Prayer Intentions
News & Inspiration
+ Saints News: Saint Bonaventure: A Man of Action and Contemplation - Pope Benedict XVI
+ Lent: Catechism of the Catholic Church
+ Lent: Papal Message for Lent 2010
+
Bioethics: Human Dignity and Natural Moral Law
+ Abide in God and Keep His Commandments: Pope Benedict on John Chapters 15-16
+ Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes: Pope Benedict tells Church to evangelize and care for the sick in body and spirit
+ Saint Anthony of Padua: Example to preachers, one of most popular Saints ― Pope Benedict XVI Audience
News Links
:: USCCB: Bishops Call For Extension Of Trade Preferences For Haiti As Part Of Long-Term Recovery Support
:: USCCB: Bishops Call for Bipartisan Action to Advance Health Care Reform That Protects Human Life and Dignity
:: USCCB: Series of Seminars Slated to Introduce Revised Translation of Roman Missal
:: USCCB: Archbishop O’Brien Speaks At Summit Aimed At Eliminating Nuclear Weapons
:: CNS: Pope expresses sorrow over murder of Christians in Iraq
Today's Mass
Readings: usccb.org/nab/020210.shtml
+ "Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel."
+ "... He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested."
+ "The child grew and became Strong, filled with Wisdom; and the Favor of God was upon Him."
+ "Who is this King of Glory? It is the Lord!"
GOSPEL: Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32
Forty days after the Birth of Jesus, the Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Joseph take the Infant Jesus to the temple to comply with Jewish law. They encounter Simeon and Anna, two old, faithful individuals who each bear witness to who Jesus is and prophecy about what is to come.
Simeon, a devout, faithful old man who had learned from the Holy Spirit that he was to remain alive until he saw the Messiah. When he comes "in the Spirit" and sees the Infant Jesus, Simeon testifies as to Jesus being the Christ.
Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to Your Word, for my eyes have seen Your Salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for Revelation to the Gentiles, and Glory for Your People Israel.
Simeon goes to prophecy how Jesus is destined to be the rise and fall of many, and how a sword will pierce the Blessed Mother as well, apparently refering to her suffering at witnessing the Suffering of her Son. His prophecy that the thoughts of many will be revealed seems to look even further into the future, towards the time of Judgment when all will be exposed.
Anna is an elderly widow, 84 years old. She is in the House of God night and day praying and fasting. Seeing Jesus, Anna gives thanks to God and speaks about Jesus "to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem."
The Presentation of the Lord is also the Second Mystery of the Most Holy Rosary. Sometimes it is considered that a Fruit of this Mystery is obedience to (just) law. Jewish law prescribed a small animal sacrifice to God, carried out in the temple, the first (or only) time a family has a son. The Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph are complying with this requirement, but what ends up happening is that, in a sense, their arrival to the House of God to present Jesus before God the Father confirms how the Life of Jesus is dedicated to His Heavenly Father.
This event, in turn, results in Simeon and Anna bearing Witness to the fact that Jesus is Messiah and will bring about our Redemption, causing great amazement to the Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph, even after what already has happened in their encounter with the Archangel Gabriel, the Shepherds, and the Magi.
The longer version of today's Gospel also sets out the brief description of Jesus' Holy Childhood:
The child grew and became strong, filled with Wisdom; and the Favor of God was upon him.
PSALM 24:7, 8, 9, 10
Psalm 24 declares: "Who is this King of Glory? It is the Lord!"
The psalmist exhorts us to welcome the King of Glory, the Lord of Hosts, who enters to be with us.
FIRST READING: Malachi 3:1-4
The Holy Prophet Malachi recounts how God has said He is sending a Messenger of His Covenant to prepare the way, who will come to the temple. The Messenger will purify and refine the Sons of Levi, who for the Israelites were the Priestly Class.
SECOND READINGS: Hebrews 2:14-18
The unknown author of the Letter to the Hebrews explains that Jesus destroyed death through His own Death. Recall that it is impossible to regard Jesus' Death outside its Context, namely Jesus' Passion, Death and Resurrection to offer Himself as a Sacrifice to Atone for our sins and free us from damnation.
Through His Death, Jesus "destroy[s] the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life."
The Epistle goes on to explain that Jesus also became like us, taking on human form, "that He might be a Merciful and Faithful High Priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because He Himself was tested through what He suffered, He is able to help those who are being tested."
As a result, we are reminded that:
+ Jesus destroyed death through His Death
+ Jesus destroyed the devil by destroying death, and freeing us from slavery that results from fear of death
+ Becoming like us, Jesus identifies with our humanity to help us when we are tested
+ Jesus becomes our Merciful and Faithful High Priest
Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible with Revised New Testament © 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C., at times enhanced to provide additional capitalization. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours)
One of the antiphons for the psalms in Morning Prayer focuses on a key part of this day's Gospel:
Simeon was a Holy and Devout man who looked for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was with him.
Antiphon 1, Morning Prayer, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, The Liturgy of the Hours, According to the Roman Rite, Vol. III, Ordinary Time Weeks 1-17, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1975, at 1352.
In today's Office of Readings, Saint Sophronius exhorts us to respond to the events in the Gospel by hastening to meet Christ as Simeon and Anna did, and to join in the Light that is Jesus coming to a world darkened by sin:
In honor of the Divine Mystery we celebrate today, let us all hasten to meet Christ. Everyone should be eager to join the procession and to carry a light.
* * *
The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, carried the true light in her arms and brought Him to those who lay in darkness ....... the Dayspring from on High has visited us and and given Light to those who lived in darkness. This, then, is our Feast, and we join in procession with lighted candles to reveal the Light that has shone upon us and the Glory that is yet to come to us through Him. So let us hasten all together to meet our God.
Saint Sophronius, sermon (excerpt), The Liturgy of the Hours, According to the Roman Rite, Vol. III, Ordinary Time Weeks 1-17, Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1975, at 1350.
Saints of February
+ "Saint of the Day" by the USCCB
+ "Saint of the Day" by AmericanCatholic.org (Franciscans; on rare occasions, slightly different than the official feast day)
+ Saints of the Day, from St. Patrick's Church, Washington, D.C.
+ Saints with Feast Days in February
Prayer Intentions
Pope Benedict's Prayer Intentions for February 2010
+ General Intention: scholarly sincere search for truth enhancing understanding of God - "That by means of sincere search for the truth scholars and intellectuals may arrive at a[ better] understanding of the One True God."
+ Mission intention: Church being Faithful to Christ, universality of Gospel Mission: - "That the Church, aware of Her own Missionary Identity, may strive to follow Christ faithfully and to proclaim His Gospel to all peoples."
Additional Faith Central Prayer Intentions
+ For additional support and guidance for the development of Faith Central
+ For the elderly and infirmed, their protection by the Blessed Mother, and that they be treated with respect, dignity, and love.
+ For respect for human life and the dignity of the human person, from their creation
prior to conception, to natural death.
+ That God's Will be obeyed by all actions of government and all government-related actions of the populace
+ For an end to the recession, and for all humanity to work together to bear fruit in service to the needs of all
+ For those of means to divert resources to help those in the human family, locally or abroad, who are hungry, starving, or homeless
+ For peace in the world, and the conversion of the hearts of terrorists.
+ For peace in the world in families, especially for women and men facing crisis pregnancies, their preborn children, and those assisting them, especially their relatives and those volunteers and professionals dedicated to prolife work.
+ For the conversion of the hearts of sinners.
+ For the Faithful Departed, especially the relatives of those
praying and those they have met or have known.
+ For the Faithful Departed, especially those with no one praying for
them.
Keywords: Catholic, Gospel of Luke, Psalm 25, Letter to the Thessalonians, Prophet Jeremiah, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Divine Office, Liturgy of the Hours, Daily Readings, Mass, Catholic Faith, Christian, Pope Benedict, Prayer Intentions, Catholic News
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