Readings and Reflection for Reflection for Thursday December 29, 5th Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord

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FIRST READING

“He who loves his brother abides in the light.”

A reading from the first Letter of Saint John (1 Jn. 2:3-11)

Beloved: By this we may be sure that we know Jesus Christ, if we keep his commandments. He who says “I know him” but disobeys his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but who— ever keeps his word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: he who says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment which you had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. Yet I am writing you a new commandment, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in the darkness still. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and in it there is no cause for stumbling. But he who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 96:1-2a.2b-3.5b-6(R. 11a)

R/. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

O sing a new song to the Lord;

sing to the Lord, all the earth.

O sing to the Lord; bless his name. R/.

Proclaim his salvation day by day.

Tell among the nations his glory,

and his wonders among all the peoples. R/.

R/. Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad.

It was the Lord who made the heavens.

In his presence are majesty and splendour,

strength and honour in his holy place. R/.

ALLELUIA Luke 2:32

Alleluia. A light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel. Alleluia.

GOSPEL

“A light for revelation to the Gentiles.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Luke 2:22-35)

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” And his father and his mother marvelled at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Simeon was prompted by the Holy Spirit to go to the Temple and, being the man he was (devout and upright), he responded accordingly. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to lead us to Jesus, the way, the truth and the life. By seeking the Lord as Simeon did we are not left to our devices; the Holy Spirit guides us.

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