Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas
A Light for All the Nations
Liturgical Cycle: A | Lectionary Cycle: II
Introduction
God comes to his temple today as if incognito, as a child carried in the arms of its mother. Simeon, the old man in the Temple, took Jesus in his arms and recognized this child as the Savior expected by the Jews in the Old Testament but also as the salvation of all people. In him the old Israel can fade away in peace. This child was to be the glory of Israel, yes, but also the light to enlighten pagans, everyone. He comes to us now not merely to be the light of us Christians. He does not belong to us alone but to all. St John tells us how to reflect the light of Christ: all those who love their neighbor are living in the light.
Opening Prayer
God, Father of light,
the old man Simeon recognized your Son
as the light that would shine on all.
May we too recognize Jesus,
even if he comes to us in a humble way,
in the shape and person of children,
of old people, of the poor and the little ones.
Make us receive him too
as the light not only of our lives
but as the bright dawn for all nations.
For you are the Father of all
and Jesus belongs to all as their Savior and Lord,
now and for ever.
Responsorial Psalm
R. (11a) 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.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
The LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty go before him;
praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary.
R. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Alleluia Verse
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Prayers of the Faithful
– For all parents who take their children to church for baptism, that God may bless them and their children, we pray:
– For all parents who suffer when their children bring sorrow on them, that they may keep trusting in the Lord, we pray:
– For all peoples who come to know Christ, that they may accept him as their joy and life, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Loving God,
a humble piece of bread and a little wine
are enough to let Jesus come among us.
Enliven these simple gifts with your Spirit,
that we may welcome among us
him who enlightens all nations
with his joy and the bright morning
of true justice and deep commitment
of loving service, a sense of compassion
and a boundless generosity,
Jesus, the Savior of all and our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God of light,
we have sat at the festive table
of him who came to unite all peoples far and near
as brothers and sisters
who can love and accept one another,
notwithstanding all their differences
of race and culture,
of social standing and personality.
Make us believe and practice
that this is only possible
in him who became one of us all
and who laid down his life for all,
Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
May the Holy Spirit rest also on us, that we accept and recognise Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of everyone and the light that brightens the lives of all. May Almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
REFLECTIONS
We need more ‘Simeons’; Can you be one?
“Now I can die!” This is how the Gospel presents the serene figure of Simeon, in vivid contrast to the tortured Herod, slayer of the Innocents, who was mentioned in the Gospel yesterday. Herod’s death became legendary for its awfulness. But Simeon can teach us how to approach death: not to see it as an enemy, “the prince of terrors,” but to welcome it as a culmination, a completion. If we have not lived our lives faithfully and fruitfully, we will be terrified of death. If Simeon could approach death so peacefully, he must have lived a deep life: unlike Herod, he must have fought the war within, and come to peace with himself, with others and with God.
“Now, Lord, you can let your servant go in peace.” Simeon’s canticle is a beautiful closing of the day: a lesson on how to end things, how to approach the end of life and how to take one’s leave. He is prepared for a peaceful departure. He spent his entire life in waiting for the consolation of the people of Israel. His waiting reached a blessed end when Jesus entered temple with his parents. He was able to experience the fulfilment of God’s promises because his whole life was in resonance with God’s voice
The story of Simeon teaches that our hopes will be realised someday, if not immediately, and God will fulfil every one of his promises. But God’s ways do not always align with ours. Simeon was waiting for the glorious Messiah of Israel. “My eyes have seen the salvation, which you have made ready in the sight of the nations, a light of revelation for the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel” in a weak, defenceless child. Simeon shows us how to end each day, a year and our life itself in peace with God.
Simeon personifies the history of Israel. He represents a people who, in spite of all the conflicts and deviations from faith and God, continued to trust in the new future that God had promised them. He personifies the story of any person in search, with the possibility of welcoming Emmanuel - God-with-us and announcing the novelty of his Kingdom.
We need more elders like Simeon. Also, young and middle-aged ‘Simeons’. That from the experience of a life lived in confidence and faith, they transmit that confidence and faith to those who come from behind. Do you believe that you, too, can be a Simeon?