THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD (FEAST)

The Holy Spirit was upon him.

One of the Church’s great mystics, St. Bridget of Sweden, once received a revelation from Mary about her Son, Jesus. “There is the same humility in my Son now,” Mary told her, “as there was when he was laid in the manger.” Jesus had humbled himself by coming as a child and giving his life for our sake. But even now, Mary told St. Bridget, he continues to humble himself toward “all who speak to him with love,” and he does it by sending his Holy Spirit to lead and guide us.

These beautiful insights can help us understand how Simeon came to recognize Jesus in the Temple when Joseph and Mary brought him there for his presentation. They can also give us a sense of what can happen in us when we speak to Jesus “with love.”

Simeon was a devout Jew who loved God and ardently awaited the Messiah of Israel. He had faith. He studied the Scriptures. And he prayed constantly to see the fulfillment of God’s promises. Here was a man who spoke to God with great love and great longing. Here was a man who yearned to see the face of God. And because of Simeon’s love and faithfulness, God gave him the privilege of being able to recognize Jesus when his parents brought him to the Temple that day.

Perhaps it was Simeon’s practice of conversing lovingly with God that enabled him to receive clear guidance from the Holy Spirit. All that time spent praying and meditating on the Hebrew Scriptures helped Simeon open his heart to the Spirit. It helped him recognize the Spirit’s voice. It made him open to the Spirit’s guidance, which led him directly to Jesus.

The same can be true for you. Every time you reflect on God’s promises in Scripture, every time you look for him in prayer, every time you join in the celebration of Mass, you have an opportunity to speak to Jesus with great love. And no matter how lowly you think you are, no matter how much sin has clouded your heart, Jesus will do what he has always done: he will humble himself and come and show himself to you.

“Jesus, I love you. Let me follow the Holy Spirit into your presence.”

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

WORD AMONG US