Lk 2,22-35

As I begin, I become aware of the Lord present with me, looking upon me with love, desiring to speak to my heart.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Mary with baby Jesus and Joseph come to the Temple. According to the law of Moses, they have to consecrate the firstborn son to God. There is Simeon, who is waiting for the Son of God, to whom the Holy Spirit has promised not to die until he sees the Messiah.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for trusting God and experiencing his love

1. Holy Family.

The Holy Family faces various difficulties from the very beginning: the annunciation is a great surprise, difficult to accept for Mary and Joseph, her husband, who learns that his wife is pregnant and that he is not the father of the child; the moment of childbirth – they cannot find a place where Mary could give birth to a child; they have to run away to another country, to protect the child’s life. There are many other difficult moments, up to the death of Jesus on the cross, from a human point of view, a huge tragedy in the lives of each parent. It is likely that the Holy Family also experienced joyful events and had a pleasant time. Mary with Joseph, all these difficult and pleasant moments, eperienced with God, trusting him completely. This is their holiness. See how God guided them in their daily lives.

2. Simeon.

He is a righteous and just man. The Holy Spirit promised him not die until he saw the Messiah. Simeon had his promise fulfilled. He recognized Jesus in the child brought by Mary and Joseph. It didn’t have to be easy, Jesus probably looked similar to the other children. Notice Simeon’s patience in waiting for the Messiah, and the deep faith and awareness that made him possible to recognize Jesus.

3. The passing year …

I invite you to reflect on the ending year 2020:

a. Remind yourself the good moments of the ending year, good relationships, any good you have experienced. God was present in all of them. He gave all that good to you because he loves you. Thanks God for all good you have received.

b. Remind yourself difficult events, difficult relationships. Look at them from today’s perspective: how did you experience them, what good came out of them, what did you learn. In these difficult times, God was with you. Thanks God for them.

c.Look at the whole year: how has God guided you through this year? How did you take care of living your daily life with him and your relationship with him? What was your awareness of finding God in the other person, in yourself?

d.Think about one thing you want to improve in yourself, in experiencing your everyday life in order to live more fully in God.

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar,such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)