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?
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.