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” (Lk. 2:22-32).
Grace : Lord Jesus, I beg for the grace of waiting that I may be able to be open to your promptings and movements in my life.
Points for Prayer:
1. Meditate on the passage above. Read the passage slowly. Allow the words to wash over you. Savor each word. Stay with the words that especially catch your attention. Absorb them the way the thirsty earth receives the rain. Repeat the words or phrases, aware of the feelings that are awakened in you. Read and reread the passage lovingly as you would a letter from a dear friend, or a sweet lover, or your spouse.
2. Take a comfortable posture. Close your eyes. I invite you to keep silence for a period of ten minutes. First you will try to attain silence, as total a silence as possible of mind and heart. Having attained it, you will expose yourself to whatever revelation it brings.
3. Do this exercise for the next seven days before you begin your work.
4. Identify areas in your life where you sense you grew and matured – be it in relationships, or work, or a healing experience. Name them. Bless each of them with the Simeon’s canticle:
“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”
5. End by thanking your God.
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