Your lives are echoing the Master’s word – the news of your faith in God is out

3rd week in Ordinary Time, Year I, White Mal 3:1-4 / Ps. 24:7. 8. 9. 10 / Lk 2:22-40

Gospel Luke 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 first born male should 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 in his arms, and blessed God, saying, “Now, O 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 the nations, and the glory of your people Israel.” His father and mother wondered at what was said about the child. Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary, his mother, “Know this: your son is a sign, a sign established for the falling and rising of many in Israel, a sign of contradiction; and a sword will pierce your own soul, so that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess name 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 to 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

Worries, trials, problems – these are ever present in our lives. They come, they go. They can make or break you. But just like in today’s first reading, as well as in the gospel, there is an unseen power who is above all these if we only have faith – faith in God. We just need to be open to God’s grace and to pray for understanding so that we will be able to get the meaning of His messages. We have to look at the positive side of every painful experience we encounter for us to be strong in character. We should always count our blessings for us to be reminded how loving our God is. If we have faith, we will believe in God’s plans for us. We will be ready to be His messenger by the lives we lead. Our lives will be our testimony that God indeed is alive.

First Thessalonians 1:8

First Thessalonians 1:8 says: “Your lives are echoing the Master’s word – the news of your faith in God is out.” We don’t even have to say anything anymore. You’re the message.