From the responsorial psalm: “Give to the LORD, you families of nations, give to the LORD glory and praise; give to the LORD the glory due his name! Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:36-40)
There was 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.
After the presentation of Jesus in the temple, the prophetess Anna comes forward to Joseph and Mary and, as John tells us, “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” In her long life, Anna faithfully awaited the coming of the Messiah and sees just that in the child Jesus. Luke then tells us that Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth with Jesus, where he “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.” Like Anna, Mary and Joseph remained obedient to God in fulfilling all the prescriptions of the law and returning home to raise Jesus in Nazareth, giving to the Lord the glory due his name.
God, help me be vigilant in recognizing your work in the world and the quiet ways you make your presence known. Attentive to this, give me the grace to know and do your will—not my will—throughout the day. From the first reading, help me call to mind the words of John as I look for direction: “Yet the world and its enticement are passing away. But whoever does the will of God remains forever.” From the enticing call of the world and its hollow pretentiousness deliver me. Give me the wisdom, Lord, to recognize it for what it is and instead grow and become strong in faith and childlike in my love for you. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, pray for us!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.