REVELATION OF CHRIST TO THE PRIESTS


5TH DAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS

1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3,5-6; Lk 2:22-35

My Eyes have seen the Salvation for the Nations

The birth of Jesus Christ is the revelation of the greatest thing that has ever happened to humanity. We say it is the revelation of it because the actual event is his conception, which happened at the annunciation, when the Blessed Virgin Mary assented to become the mother of the Son of God. The secret and mysterious event of the Incarnation of the Eternal Word was revealed to ordinary men on Christmas Day. The revelation of this mystery to men was by the angels who came to the lowly shepherd watching their flock by night to announce the Good News of the birth of the Saviour for us. They bid the shepherds to go witness the great and unique event for themselves. We read of the great event at the vigil Mass of Christmas. It is amazing and interesting that the lowly shepherds were the ones to receive the first notification of the greatest event in human history from God, through his angels. It is something to ponder about, for it shows the great regard our God has for lowliness. The scriptures bear witness to this when we read that God dwells with the lowly in the land. We are to cherish humility as one of the greatest virtues we must cultivate in our lives. The Eternal Word teaches us this demon-chasing virtue by his Incarnation. His Blessed Mother also excelled in this virtue of humility, by which she vanquishes the ancient serpent.

The Gospel reading informs us of the formal notification of Christ’s birth to the priestly class, represented by the old Simeon. This took place in the Temple. It was the formal presentation of the Saviour or the Baby Jesus in the Temple. Therefore, a priest was needed to receive the revelation, which announced the end of the old Levitical priesthood. The great revelation of God through his Son in human nature fulfils the old ritual, while introducing a new order. “When the day came for them to be purified as laid down by the Law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord—observing what stands written in the Law of the Lord.” While they were obeying the word of God as given in the Law of Moses, a New Law was identified and acknowledged by the priest who prepared himself by reading, meditating, and waiting on God to fulfil his promise of salvation. “Now in Jerusalem, there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to Israel’s comforting and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set his eyes on the Christ of the Lord.” God fulfilled the personal promise he made to him and the promise made to Israel and all nations in general. “Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.” Thus, the circle of people receiving the revelation of the appearance of the great salvation of the world keeps widening within the octave.

What are the general features or characteristics of those who receive the notification of the coming of the Saviour? Saint John helps us to answer this question in his first letter. We have mentioned the lowly and the humble souls. These keep the word of God and his commandments. “But when anyone does obey what he has said, God’s love comes to perfection in him. We can be sure that we are in God only when the one who claims to be living in him is living the same kind of life as Christ lived.” Because the poor and the lowly are living the kind of life that Jesus Christ chose to live as a man, his revelation comes to them connaturally. A lowly soul understands his poverty and the need he has of God; he yearns and desires the grace of God and his salvation. Thus, the revelation of Jesus Christ is not a new commandment, but fits very well with the life and expectations of the poor and lowly. The Good News of Jesus Christ is old and new, for it fulfils the old and commences a new order of love of God. “Yet in another way, what I am writing to you, and what is being carried out in your lives as it was in his, is a new commandment; because the night is over and the real light is already shining.” The intensity of the light of God’s revelation in Christ is what makes the new order superior to the old. The earth has received heaven in an everlasting communion in Jesus Christ. This is the cause of our joy, that Jesus Christ is born for us.

Let us pray: Almighty and invisible God, who dispersed the darkness of this world by the coming of your light, look, we pray, with serene countenance upon us, that we may acclaim with fitting praise the greatness of the Nativity of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.      

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

BECOMING A DEPENDABLE FRIEND

Image
FRIDAY, SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Eccl 6:5-17; Ps 119:12,16,18,27,34-35; Mk 10:1-12 Making and being a Good Friend The usefulness of a faithful friend is the subject discussed in the passage of Sirach we are considering. From the qualities that make a good friend, we understand that faithfulness depends on the perfection we attain in the formative school of wisdom. The first lesson we learn in nature is faithfulness. The quality of faithfulness is so closely aligned with nature that we consider nature and faithfulness synonyms. The faithfulness of nature, and subsequently of wisdom, is hinted at when we read that wisdom stands at her post/gate daily to beckon the passers-by to turn in and partake of her table. Everything that God made participates in this faithfulness of wisdom in the sense that each remains faithful to his will without failing or leading our minds astray. First, Sirach admonishes us on friendliness to people in general: “A kindly turn of speech multiplies a ...
Read more

WE CANNOT ENTER INTO HEAVEN WITHOUT FAITH

Image
OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP  Isa 7:1-9; Ps 48:2-8; Mt 11:20-24 If you do not stand by Me, you will not stand at all The Lord Jesus Christ takes up the issue of rejecting or ignoring the Gospel message when it comes to us in the gospel reading today. The word of God contains all the blessings of heaven which God had given us in Christ before the beginning of the world. Hence, a rejection or refusal to accept or listen to the Gospel message is a rejection of all the heavenly blessings we have received in Jesus Christ. These divine blessings have import for our lives here on earth. While still dwelling here on earth, those who believe in the word of God already possess the heavenly inheritance God will fully manifest to us when we exit this mortal tent. By faith, we enter into the eternal kingdom and the promised inheritance. The importance of faith for our reception of the heavenly blessings here on earth is illustrated in the first reading...
Read more

The offsprings of the Old man and the New Man

Image
Monday, fifth week of lent/2024 Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP Offsprings of Old man and New Man To be able to live the new life within the new Covenant in Jesus Christ, the old life must come to an end. The distinctive difference between the old man and the new man is the focus of desires. The old man and all who live by him have their desires focussed on the satisfaction of self. On the other hand, the new man and those living by him desires only to fulfil God's holy will. Thus, the old man and his offspring obey the law of sin and death. Living for self alone breeds sins, and sin causes death. So, the old man and all living by him are dead and harbingers of death to others. They are adept at manipulating the Law of God to perpetuate their interest and selfish desires. An example of this skill is the treatment the two old judges of Israel in Babylon meted out to Susanna, wife of Joachim, employing the Law of Moses as given in the first reading. “Two elderly men had ...
Read more