Today's readings are here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020212.cfm
"....Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, 'Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord'...."
In today's Gospel, Mary and Joseph, out of obedience to the law of Moses, take Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. This command that every male child who opened the womb had to be presented to the Lord was given for a memorial of the Exodus when God spared the firstborn of the Hebrews, but killed the firstborn of the Egyptians.
Out of love for us, God the Father did not spare his only Son, but freely delivered him up for us, so that we might be spared from experiencing unending death. This self-giving love of God has opened the barren womb of our heart, so that we might bring forth the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
In gratitude for new life, let us go up to Jerusalem, that place of self-denial and crucifixion, and present ourselves, with Christ, to the Lord as living sacrifices.
No comments:
Post a Comment