Tag: anna

The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

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.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Free Catholic Prayer Guide

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:22-40)

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.”

Luke describes the events surrounding the presentation of Jesus in the temple and the encounter of Joseph and Mary with Simeon and Anna. Mary and Joseph bring Jesus to the temple, demonstrating their faithfulness to the Jewish customs and laws. Simeon recognizes immediately that Jesus is the Messiah. He prophesies great suffering for Jesus and Mary because of his mission. In her son’s crucifixion, Mary will participate in his suffering for a purpose Simeon makes clear: “so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” Anna also encounters Jesus in the temple and praises God, spreading the news about him to all who are awaiting the redemption of Israel.

God, you know the hearts of your people. Through Jesus Christ your Son, the thoughts of many hearts are revealed. Help reveal in my heart today how you present yourself to me and how I present myself to you. What will I see in you with eyes of faith, and will I see the opportunity to participate in Christ’s suffering? Give me the grace to see in the Presentation the salvation you bring to people of all nations and the particular salvation you bring to me in my own brokenness. At the end of the day, I hope to be like Simeon, who knew the peace of holding the infant Jesus in his arms: “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.”

From the responsorial psalm: “Who is this king of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!”

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.

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (LK 2:22-40)

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him 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.

According to Jewish customs, Joseph and Mary take Jesus to the Jerusalem temple to present him to the Lord. As they present him, Simeon, a righteous and devout man, recognizes Jesus as the promised Messiah. He proclaims that Jesus will bring light to Gentiles and stir up Israel and that Jesus is “destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel.” Simeon also reveals to Mary the suffering she will experience as a result of Jesus’ role. Another prophetess, Anna, joins in praise and spreads word of the child Jesus, the long-awaited Savior. Joseph and Mary return to Nazareth, where Jesus matures, as Luke says, “filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”

God, in recognizing Christ, Simeon and Anna experienced peace and joy in the incarnation of the word, the presence of Emmanuel. How is it that they recognized the Savior? Luke says that Anna never left the temple, awaiting the redemption of Israel. Of Simeon, he says he was “righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel.” Both waited for you, Lord; they looked out for you, prayed and fasted as devoted servants, and found not only peace in the world but recognized the word made flesh at first sight. Help me today learn from Simeon and Anna. As a way to put into practice their example, let me call to mind the words of Saint Paul from the second reading: “And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful.”

From the Gospel acclamation: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.”

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.

“She gave thanks to God.” | The Sixth Day in the Octave of Christmas

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:36-40)

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.

In these few words, Luke shares a kind of epilogue of the birth narrative of Jesus. It shows that Mary and Joseph were faithful, that they returned to live in their hometown of Nazareth, and that Jesus grew in body and spirit and wisdom under God’s favor. But of the prophetess Anna Luke is careful to describe how she lived her life, as she “worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer,” and how she responded at seeing the Holy Family: “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.” She came forward at that very time. The present is all she had, and in that moment she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child Jesus, the coming of the Savior.

God, help me understand that in fasting, prayer, and worship, Anna made herself attentive to recognize the redemption of Jerusalem, the coming of the Messiah. Luke says that she never left the temple. Give me the grace, Lord, to be attentive to you, to watch for your coming. In recognizing you in the gift of the present moment, how can I do anything but give you thanks, as Anna did, at that very time. Half the battle, the spiritual battle, is remaining vigilant. Saint John says in the first reading that the world and its enticement are passing away. Help me today be steadfast in hearing and doing your will.

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!”

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.

“Your word has been fulfilled.” | The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:22-35)

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him 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.

Mary and Joseph faithfully observe Jewish law by presenting Jesus in the temple to consecrate him to the Lord. They are not a wealthy couple, as evidenced by their gift of two young turtledoves offered for sacrifice. Luke relates their encounter with Simeon (and later the prophetess Anna) as he prophesies God’s fulfillment of promises in Jesus, who will be a sign of contradiction and that Mary will experience great sorrow in this unfolding: Simeon says, “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” Simeon proclaims that Jesus came not only for Jewish people but to bring salvation to all.

God, help me today see that you have spoken through the prophets and ultimately through Jesus, inviting all to redemption and salvation through faith in your Son. Luke says that Simeon took Jesus into his arms and blessed God. Open my eyes, Lord, to see the opportunity today to take Jesus into my arms and give you glory. I am struck by the poverty of Joseph and Mary, that out of that poverty they hold in their arms your inexhaustible treasure of love and mercy, Emmanuel—”God is with us.”

From the responsorial psalm: “The LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty go before him; praise and grandeur are in his sanctuary. Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!” Glory to you, Lord, your word has been fulfilled!

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.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

“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.”

Simeon speaks these words as he takes Jesus in his arms, who Mary and Joseph have brought to the temple in Jerusalem to present him in fulfillment of the law of the Lord. Luke says of Simeon: “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.” After blessing Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, he prophesies Jesus’ role in salvation and the suffering that Mary would experience as a result “so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” The prophetess Anna also sees Jesus and, as Luke tells us, “gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.” These two holy people, Simeon and Anna, recognized through a life of faith and prayer that Jesus was the Messiah.

God, thank you for the gift of steadfast faith. Simeon and Anna waited a lifetime to see your Son, and when they did see him recognized the child Emmanuel. Help me understand that your way of revealing yourself in time doesn’t correspond to my expectation of what and when you reveal yourself to me. Eager always to say “my eyes have seen your salvation,” at times I wait for that moment to come and lose heart in the waiting. At other times, I know you are there and at the end of the day can say, like Simeon, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace.” God, give me the grace today to live in the light of revelation.

Lord, strengthen my faith; I want to live in your light. As Carmelite priest Father Stinissen said, “To believe in Jesus Christ makes us look, to the eyes of unbelievers, like children who believe in fairy tales. Jesus was destined to be the fall and the rising of many. Some fall over him, and others are saved by him.”

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.

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