Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 24:7-10, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel. Lk 2:32

FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD

Malachi 3:1-4, Psalm 24:7-10, Hebrews 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40

Malachi 3:1-4

My soul's beloved, God so loved us that He sent You into the world to save us. We could only be ransomed and saved by a blood sacrifice, through the fire of suffering of one who was without stain or blemish of sin. Only one who was sinless could pay the price for the sinful. Animal sacrifices were worthless and human sacrifices abhorrent for they could neither repair nor restore what we had lost forever through sin. But God did not forget the Covenant He made with Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and David which He kept renewing from generation to generation. The chosen people looked with great hope, longing, and faith for its fulfillment. The Father sent You to become the Lamb of Sacrifice. Now that we know the price that was required to satisfy the justice of God, we tremble at what You were willing to endure, what God willed for You to endure, so we could stand before Him. Purified by the Blood of the Lamb, thrust into the fire of Divine love we are set free from sin. Purified like gold and silver we can now come into the Presence of the Most High God, into the Holy of Holies because You have rend the curtain that kept us apart from God when Your Flesh was torn asunder and made a way for us to enter the gates of heaven through You.

Thank You Beloved.

Psalm 24:7-10

My soul's beloved, King of glory, Lord of Lord You are the Gate to heaven. We enter through You. You are victorious. You have won the battle and are victorious. Your victory is our victory. Sin no longer holds us in captivity. No longer are we in bondage, no longer slaves to our flesh, to the world and the devil for You have crushed the head of Satan and are now seated at the right hand of God where You plead for us whom You have saved night and day. Thank You for all that Your Sacrifice has won for us.

Hebrews 2:14-18

My soul's beloved, You understand our human frailty and weaknesses so well for You became like us, were subject to all the temptations that assail us day in and day out until the day we die although You never succumbed to them. When we cry out for help You hasten to grant us all the strength we need to withstand the onslaught of the enemy. You destroyed death, You destroyed the Devil, and we have a glorious hope because we believe in You.

The Father sent You into the world not to help angels but to take us by the hand and gently lead us on the path that leads to life. You broke the chains that enslaved us to sin and now through the Sacrifice of Your Life and through Baptism we are Your brothers and sisters. You have taught us to call God our Father, for that is who He is to You and because we are grafted to Your Body we too are privileged to call Him Dad. You made expiation for the sins of the whole world through Your sorrowful passion and when we are tested through suffering we can run to You and hide in You and You will grant us all the grace we need to endure and emerge victorious.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine. Amen.

Luke 2:22-40

My soul's beloved, Mary and Joseph did not consider themselves above the law. They both knew You were the Son of God but they fulfilled the demands of the law which required that Mary go to the temple to be purified and You, her first born who opened her womb, to be presented to God. She was sinless and You belonged to the Father, You in fact, were One with Him before all ages. However, they were humble. They were aware of what the law demanded and they obeyed it. A pair of turtle doves was the offering of the poor and this they took as their sacrifice even though You were the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You identified with the poor so none can can say You did not experience our  poverty.

Simeon it is said was a righteous man, it was also said of Joseph and of Moses that they were righteous men. To be righteous is to do God's will in all things. Simeon was filled with the Holy Spirit and was sensitive to the voice and direction of the Spirit thus it was that he was directed into the presence of the Son of God, who lay as a little baby in the arms of Mary His Mother. He recognized God and his heart was filled with joy that the promise made to him was fulfilled. How blessed he was that his eyes beheld the Creator of the world, the Incarnate Word and now he was ready to leave this world for the next. His eyes had looked upon the Face of God who was the Light of the World and the glory not only of the people of Israel but of the entire human race.