The Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas Or Optional Memorial of Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr Gospel: Luke 2:22-35 The Holy Family Observing the Law: The Canticle of Simeon
If we carefully examine the Scriptures, we find that in the Book of the Law of Moses, it is written: “If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be unclean for seven days; as at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. On the eighth day, the flesh of the boy’s foreskin shall be circumcised.” Likewise, the same book of the Law states: “When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a one-year-old lamb for a burnt offering. But if she cannot afford a lamb, she shall take two turtledoves or two young pigeons: one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering.” (Cf. Leviticus 12:1-4, 6, 8)
Today, the Holy Family of Nazareth, in accordance with the Law of Moses, offered to God a simple and humble gift (cf. Luke 2:21-24), setting for us an example of humility and conformity to God’s will. Therefore, in our own lives, we must always remain humble and, like Abraham, be ever ready to fulfill God’s holy will.
In the time of Jesus, there were many people like Simeon who lived under Roman rule, suffering in a world of hardship and turmoil. They longed intensely for a political savior to deliver them from their circumstances. Thus, when Simeon, moved by the Holy Spirit, beheld the salvation God had prepared for Israel, he could not help but praise God. To this day, the universal Church chants this beautiful Canticle of Simeon (cf. Luke 2:28-32) each day in the Liturgy of the Hours. Similarly, in our present world, many people suffer greatly due to sin or the pressures of life, enduring the pains inflicted by this world. By nature, they share our longing for deliverance from present sufferings. Simeon, embracing the incarnate Christ in his arms and praising the God of Israel in the manner he deemed fitting, sets for us a model of praising God in all circumstances.
Today, let us follow the example of Jesus’ parents in faithfully observing God’s law, and imitate the example of Simeon by blessing God in all things. Amen.
St. John Gospel: John 20:1a, 2-8 Following the example of St. John the Evangelist, we should closely follow Jesus Christ
Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of St. John the Apostle. Church tradition tells us that St. John was one of Jesus’ favourite disciples. When Jesus was crucified, he remained steadfastly by Jesus’ side until the end, and even under the cross, he remained steadfast. Our Lord Jesus Christ, when he hung on the cross, entrusted the Virgin Mary to John. John, in obedience to Jesus Christ’s will, generously welcomed the Virgin Mary, setting an example for us. In today’s Gospel, John paints us a moving picture. After Jesus Christ was laid to rest in the tomb, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene brought the joyful news of the Savior’s resurrection to Saint Peter and Saint John. He realistically depicts their love for Christ and their eagerness to see the risen Lord Jesus Christ, thus setting an example for us. During this Octave of the Nativity, let us imitate St. John, filled with trust in the Infant Jesus, and closely follow His footsteps on the path to sanctification.
St. Stephen Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22 Following the example of St. Stephen, bravely bear witness to Christ
We often face challenges and temptations to our faith from this world. The challenges posed by the master of this world often leave us in a dilemma: if we choose to accept everything in this world, we will fall into the numerous traps set by the master of this world and be unable to extricate ourselves; if we choose to abandon this world, entrust ourselves completely to God, and reject everything brought by the master of this world, we will worry about how to survive in this world. Therefore, like the Israelites in the Old Testament, we often place our sense of security on those creatures created by God like ourselves, rather than on God Himself.
In fact, we often choose to propagate the Gospel to those who are suitable for it according to our own wishes but are unwilling to follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In our view, if we propagate the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to those brothers and sisters who are willing to accept it according to our own wishes, we will achieve good results. However, the opposite is true. When we first propagate the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to our relatives and friends, we originally thought that they would accept everything we preach. In fact, very few of our relatives and friends accept everything we preach. When we reflect on the reasons for this, we often think that our relatives and friends are stubborn and unyielding. If we forcefully preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to them, they will sever ties with us. Therefore, we are ashamed to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven to them, and may even assimilate with them, continuing to live under the enslavement of sin and death.
Today, the Church celebrates the feast day of the martyrdom of St. Stephen, which serves as a constant reminder that God calls us to become His children. In life, we are to live out the spirit of the Gospel, imitate Christ, entrust ourselves, and in all things, conform to God’s holy will. With the spirit of martyrdom, we bear witness to the Gospel we proclaim, so that the world, through all we do, may know Christ, believe in the Gospel, and join us in sharing His eternal life within the holy love of Christ.
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