December 31, 2023 – HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY AND JOSEPH

+ From the Gospel according to Luke (2, 22 -40)

When the days of their ritual purification were completed, according to the law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought the child [Jesus] to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord – as it is written in the law of the Lord: «Every firstborn male will be sacred to the Lord » – and to offer as a sacrifice a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons, as the law of the Lord prescribes.
Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon, a righteous and pious man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had announced to him that he would not see death without first having seen the Christ of the Lord. Moved by the Spirit, he went to the temple and, while the parents brought the baby Jesus there to do what the Law prescribed regarding him, he also welcomed him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
«Now you can leave, O Lord, that your servant
go in peace, according to your word,
because my eyes have seen your salvation,
prepared by you before all people:
light to reveal you to the people
and glory of your people, Israel.”
Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at the things that were said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: «Behold, he is here for the fall and resurrection of many in Israel and as a sign of contradiction – and a sword will pierce your soul too -, so that thoughts may be revealed of many hearts.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Phanuèle, of the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in age, she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, she had then become a widow and was now eighty-four years old. She never left the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. Arriving at that moment, she also began to praise God and spoke about the child to those waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, full of wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

Word of the Lord