Living in the Spirit
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (B)
For shorter option of today’s Gospel reading, please visit: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Luke 2:22-40 - When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus 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: “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.”
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.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“He [Simeon] came in the Spirit into the temple…”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
When we picture Simeon coming into the temple “in the Spirit,” we might picture some extreme spiritual experience—a man stumbling into the Temple in a trance, mumbling praises with his hands over his heart. And maybe this is what happened; the Gospel doesn’t say. But maybe it looked very different. The Gospel describes Simeon as one who is constantly attentive to God’s promises (he was “awaiting the consolation of Israel”). Certainly, he prayed daily. Maybe, on one of these normal days, during prayer, Simeon felt God calling Him into the Temple, and he followed the inspiration. Maybe because of his simple obedience in prayer, he was privileged to see God’s Son.
If it happened in this normal, simple way (as we’d say), then this is a great example of the importance of daily meditation. In daily prayer things often strike us. When we reflect on them, and resolve to act on them, we learn to follow God’s inspirations. This might seem normal, or simply routine. But we never know when the Spirit may be directing us through our prayer to something very important—even to a life-changing experience with Christ. Meditative prayer is one very important way that we can live “in the Spirit.”
And being that it is the Feast of the Holy Family we should say that two other ways that we can be following what God wants of us are: A) that we would stay close to the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, and B) that we would love and serve our own family that God has intentionally placed us in.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above.(Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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