YOU HAVE PREPARED A LIGHT TO ENLIGHTEN THE GENTILES

By Fr. Felix (African Times Guest Writer)

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to

Luke (2:22-35). The story of the Presentation of

the child Jesus in the Temple is dominated by

Simeon’s welcome, ‘a light to enlighten the

gentiles and the glory of your people Israel’, and

by his warning to Mary, ‘a sword will pierce your

heart’.

Simeon reiterates the angel’s promise that the

child would fulfil the destiny of Israel and

Israel’s task to the nations. Much like any

family life, the promised future included the

delights of the growing, developing child, and

the background fear that the great destiny of

each child may include sorrow and even heart-

break. How much did Mary and Joseph know

about the precious child they were nurturing?

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