Bible Diary

Daily Reading

The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

LECTIONARY
202

FIRST READING

1 JN 2:3-11

Beloved:
The way we may be sure that we know Jesus
is to keep his commandments.
Whoever says, "I know him," but does not keep his commandments
is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps his word,
the love of God is truly perfected in him.
This is the way we may know that we are in union with him:
whoever claims to abide in him ought to walk just as he walked.

Beloved, I am writing no new commandment to you
but an old commandment that you had from the beginning.
The old commandment is the word that you have heard.
And yet I do write a new commandment to you,
which holds true in him and among you,
for the darkness is passing away,
and the true light is already shining.
Whoever says he is in the light,
yet hates his brother, is still in the darkness.
Whoever loves his brother remains in the light,
and there is nothing in him to cause a fall.
Whoever hates his brother is in darkness;
he walks in darkness
and does not know where he is going
because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

PSALM

PS 96:1-2A, 2B-3, 5B-6

Response: Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.

Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.

The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.

GOSPEL

LK 2:22-35

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

"Lord, now let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
(and you yourself a sword will pierce)
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

Daily Reflection

Today’s Gospel narrates the Presentation of our Lord Jesus in the temple.

Every first-born male child had to be consecrated to the Lord in accordance with the law. Mary and Joseph, therefore, took Jesus to Jerusalem, obediently observing the Law of Moses. Here they encounter Simeon an upright man who like many in Israel looked forward to and eagerly awaited the promised Messiah. It was revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen the Christ of the Lord. Now he bursts into song even as he takes Jesus into his arms and blesses God. The Nunc dimitis or the song of Simeon summarizes the hopes of those in Israel who longed for the coming of the Messiah who would be the light and the glory of Israel. Simeon goes on to predict that sorrow would accompany both Jesus and Mary as his life slowly enfolds.

Do we have the same zeal and fervour as Simeon did? Do we earnestly desire to perceive the Christ, take him in our arms and hold him close to our heart?