Presented

The WORD today (See http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020216.cfm) reminds me that we should offer everything to God. 

When we deal with others, especially to new people, we usually out out best foot forward. Men courting women usually do this. We want to show what is good in us, and try to hide the not so good things. However, we cannot hide these things forever. Eventually things will be revealed. And because we were not open from the start, people get surprised and react differently. Sometimes, we think God is like this, that he only wants to see the good things from us. We sometimes  think that God only wants to head good news from us, and see good things from us.  However, this is not the case. 

God wants us to give Him everything - the good and the bad. 

As we celebrate the Feast of Jesus Presentation, we are reminded that we should present ourselves to him. We should offer him everything. Every good and bad in us, just as Jesus was presented and offered to God in the temple - his whole being offered for the glory of God. 

Jesus was like us in all aspects except sin. He felt what we are feeling. He experienced what we are experiencing. And he became man like us to show us the way. To tell us how we should react, and guide us what we should do. The second reading tells us he suffered, and offers us what to do when we ourselves suffer - to come always to God. To lift and present everything yo God. And have faith that God will continue to take care of us. 

As we experience suffering, and as we offer everything to God, we will be reminded of the first reading. The refiner's fire, the challenges, purifies silver, us. These challenges purifies us and makes us stronger and better. It may be hard, but the thought that the refiner, God, does not take his eyes off us and is watching us every second until we are purified, should encourage us and give us hope. 

May we heed God's call to present ourselves to Him, and have faith that as we do, we will be purified and become more and more like him. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, sorry for the times I keep my heart hard and away from you. Sorry for the times I run away from you. Help me follow the way of Jesus. I will slowly offer everything to you. I will present myself to you. And trust you that you would continue to take care of me as you purify me and make me more like you. Amen. 

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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February 2, 2016
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Lectionary: 524

Reading 1 Mal 3:1-4

Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the LORD,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Responsorial Psalm PS 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

Reading 2 Heb 2:14-18

Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.

Alleluia Lk 2:32

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel LK 2:22-32

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus 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.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
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.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“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.”