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The Gospel Proclamation
... they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord ... and they offered a sacrifice ... a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon .... and the Holy Spirit rested on him. .. Guided by the Spirit Simeon came into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, ... Simeon took him in his arms and praised God ... And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed and a sword will pierce your own soul too.
There was also a prophet, Anna ...She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. ... When they had finished everything ... 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.
Prayerful Awareness
In today’s technically advanced world that we live in, everything needs to be analysed, rationalised, planned, understood and then executed. Everything ought to be tangible.
But today’s reading indicates something to the contrary. There is an unseen hand that is at work. It cannot be understood, rationalised, and is not tangible, in the real sense of the word. We see this happening, in the life of a man who lived at the time of Jesus called Simeon.
It is said that “... the Holy Spirit was upon him.” (vs. 25), “... revealed to him by the Holy Spirit” (vs. 26), “ ... He came in the Spirit” (vs. 27)
Yes, it is this Holy Spirit that is the “unseen”, “intangible” reality. Holy Spirit is the power unseen that influences our lives, influences the events in our lives. As we read this narrative, let us meditate, how this “unseen” hand was working in the life of Simeon.
Let us reflect ... First, he was filled with the Spirit ... (vs. 25). This Spirit works in his life. In this instance, this Spirit has revealed something to Simeon (vs. 26). This Spirit is motivating Simeon to do something (vs. 27). Yes, this Spirit of God who lived in Simeon was an active force or rather an active person, in the form of a bodiless Spirit.
We are no different to Simeon. At Baptism, we too were filled with the Holy Spirit. When we received the Sacrament of Confirmation, we had a boosting of this Spirit.
My sonship
Do I too experience this movement of the Holy Spirit acting within me? Am I conscious of the Holy Spirit living inside of me? Or am I too a person, who depends on rationalisation and modern technological devices to govern my life.
Prayer Starter
Come, Holy Spirit, I need Thee.
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