For a more enriching experience,
go down on your knees to pray or take it one step further
and prostrate yourself (lay face down) on the floor while praying.
Father, today's reading is a wonderful reminder to continually keep my physical eyes and my mind's eye focused on You. It is so easy to become captivated and charmed by other worldly things thereby taking my focus off You. It is also just as easy to become distorted and twisted in my thinking by worldly influences, again taking my focus off You. Today I renew my commitment to You that I will do and say things that will keep You at the front of my mind before anything else. Right up there in front and everything else falls behind You. I will choose my words carefully and deliberately and then I will follow up those words with actions. The proof is in the pudding, right? My spiritual sight and insight means everything to me. Thank You for this wonderful awareness today.
Through Jesus Christ's Most Precious Blood, Most Sacred Name and Most Holy Face, I thank You for this awareness. Amen~
A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke
Luke 2:22-40
22 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,
23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,"
24 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.
25 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.
26 It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.
27 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,
28 he took Him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
29 "Now, Master, you may let Your servant go in peace, according to Your Word,
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which You prepared in sight of all the peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for Your people Israel."
33 The Child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about Him;
34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted
35 (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el, of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years from her virginity,
37 and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
38 And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ
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