Discover the Gospel of Mass on Sunday February 2, 2025

Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke

Solemnity of the Lord’s presentation

When the time prescribed by the law of Moses was accomplished for purification, the parents of Jesus led him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, according to what is written in the law: very first-born of male sex will be devoted to the Lord . They also came to offer the sacrifice prescribed by the law of the Lord: a couple of lovebirds or two small doves. However, there was a man called Syméon in Jerusalem. He was a just and religious man, who awaited the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. He had received from the Holy Spirit the announcement that he would not see death before having seen Christ, the Messiah of the Lord. Under the action of the mind, Syméon came to the temple. As the parents presented the child Jesus to comply with the rite of the law that concerned him, Symeon received the child in his arms, and he blesses God saying: “Now, O Sovereign Master, you can leave your servant Get away in peace, according to your word. Because my eyes saw the salvation that you were preparing in the face of the peoples: light which reveals itself to the nations and gives glory to your people Israel. »» (End of brief reading) The father and mother of the child were surprised by what was said about him. Syméon blesses them, then he said to Marie his mother: “Here is that this child will cause the fall and the recovery of many in Israel. It will be a sign of contradiction – and you, your soul will be crossed by a sword -: thus will be revealed the thoughts that come from the heart of a large number. There was also a Prophet woman, Anne, daughter of Phannelon, of the tribe of Aser. She was very advanced in age; After seven years of marriage, remained widowed, she had arrived at the age of 84. It did not move away from the temple, serving God day and night in fasting and prayer. Occurring at this very hour, she proclaimed the praises of God and spoke of the child to all those who were waiting for the issuance of Jerusalem. When they had completed everything that the Lord’s law prescribed, they returned to Galileo, in their city of Nazareth. The child grew up and strengthened, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

Chapter 2, verses 22 to 40

Other readings: Book of the Prophet Malachia (chapter 3, verses 1 to 4); Psalm 23 (24); Letter to the Hebrews (chapter 2, verses 14 to 18).

Welcome newcomers

Dominique LangJournalist with the assumptionist pilgrim and religious:

In the church where I celebrate Sunday, whenever a new child is in the assembly, a habit was taken: at the end of the celebration, parents come to present their child with simple words.

A joyful and fraternal moment which is completed by a welcome gesture: the priest blesses the child by marking him with a sign of the cross on the forehead. Then he notably invites the elders of the community to do the same.

A particularly touching moment for the latter, who thus transmit their faith with confidence to the youngest. A meeting that forcefully evokes that of Syméon and Anne with the Child Jesus.

“Young and old will rejoice together,” sang the prophets of Israel to talk about the end of exile in Babylon. It is an intergenerational party that we can continue by welcoming the newborns and newcomers to a Christian assembly. A very simple fraternal experience. And therefore essential.