Anyone who loves his brother is living in the
light
We can be sure that we know God only by keeping
his commandments. Anyone who says, ‘I know him’, and does not keep his
commandments, is a liar, refusing to admit the truth.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. My dear people, this is not a new commandment that I am writing to tell
you, but an old commandment that you were given from the beginning, the
original commandment which was the message brought to you.
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.
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates
his brother is still in the dark. But anyone who loves his brother is living in
the light and need not be afraid of stumbling; unlike the man who hates his
brother and is in the darkness, not knowing where he is going, because it is
too dark to see.
Responsorial Psalm: Let the heavens rejoice and earth be glad
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia!
A light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.
Alleluia!
Gospel Luke 2:22-35
'You have prepared a light to enlighten the
pagans'
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:
Every first-born male must be consecrated to the
Lord,
and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance
with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons.
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 eyes on the Christ of the Lord.
Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple and
when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law
required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:
‘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.’
As the child’s father and mother stood there
wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and
said to Mary his mother, ‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and
for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected and a
sword will pierce your own soul too so that the secret thoughts of many
may be laid bare.’
Father in heaven thank you for the gift of your Son Jesus Christ the glory of your people Israel. Thank you for fulfilling your plan to save humanity through your Son Jesus Christ the Light of all nations. He is the glory of all humanity. Thank you God our Father for your mercy, for your enduring love, for your goodness, for your faithfulness, for your compassion, for your protection and for your grace. Christ be our Light, shine in our world.
All glory to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Lord Jesus Christ I trust in you. Virgin Mary pray for me. Saint Joseph pray for me. God's Holy Angels pray for me. My Angel Guardian pray for me, protect me. Guard and guide me.
Pray the Holy Rosary. May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph intercede on our behalf through Jesus Christ our Lord.
loved by Thee in that same measure, in which I am united to Him. Hasten then, to give me Thy Divine Son, at the hands of Thy priest, that through Jesus, I may unite myself forever to Thee, O God the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Readings Lectures Reflection St Thomas 
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