02 February 2014, Sunday: Feast of the Presentation of our Lord (Gospel and Homily)

Gospel, Luke 2:22-40

22 And when the day came for them to be purified in keeping with the Law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord-

23 observing what is written in the Law of the Lord: Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord-

24 and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is prescribed in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.

25 Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him.

26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord.

27 Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required,

28 he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

29 Now, Master, you are letting your servant go in peace as you promised;

30 for my eyes have seen the salvation

31 which you have made ready in the sight of the nations;

32 a light of revelation for the gentiles and glory for your people Israel.

33 As the child's father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him,

34 Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed-

35 and a sword will pierce your soul too -- so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'

36 There was a prophetess, too, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was well on in years. Her days of girlhood over, she had been married for seven years

37 before becoming a widow. She was now eighty-four years old and never left the Temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer.

38 She came up just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem.

39 When they had done everything the Law of the Lord required, they went back to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

40 And as the child grew to maturity, he was filled with wisdom; and God's favour was with him. 

Homily

• There is some worthy pain that we experience and we don't know what to do with them.

• Nasasaktan tayo until ubos na tayo, then we ask.. "What is the meaning of all this?"

• Offering of pain in a form of sacrifice - connection with God.

• We wait for the fulfillment of God's promises to us. But along the way, there must be an offering so that God can come to us freely.

• Sacrifice is to offer or surrender something that is valuable to us.

• Lahat ng bagay ay regalo. You feel undeserving at the first moment of gift.

• Element of sacrifice you offer the first born. Offer it as a form of sacrifice so there will be a connection with God.

• Surrender to attain more valuable gift from God.

• The devil will show himself to you, he will destruct you and make you feel that you are totally undeserving of the gift. You must fight it, body and spirit.

by Rev. Fr. Ramon N. Eloriaga 

St. Joseph Shrine - Project 3, Quezon City

Sunday, 02 February 2014 - 9:00 AM Mass