BROADCASTS.com

(Gn.15:1-6,21:1-3;\xa0\xa0 Ps.105:1-9;\xa0\xa0 Heb.11:8,11-12,17-19;\xa0\xa0 Lk.2:22-40) \u201cThe child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon Him.\u201d\xa0 What child is this of whom Simeon the prophet, filled with the Holy Spirit, declares to the Lord, \u201cMy eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all peoples,\u201d even as he holds Jesus in his arms?\xa0 This indeed is He who is the \u201clight for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for [His] people Israel\u201d; this indeed is the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham, foreshadowed in the birth of Isaac, by whom Abraham\u2019s descendants would be \u201cas numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore.\u201d\xa0 \u201cBinding for a thousand generations,\u201d forever, was the covenant the Lord \u201centered into with Abraham and by His oath to Isaac,\u201d and now that covenant is brought to perfection in the sight of Simeon and Anna; now \u201call who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem\u201d could rejoice and \u201cgive thanks to the Lord,\u201d for to the temple had come the Christ of God: here is the Messiah. \u201cRejoice, O hearts that seek the Lord!\u201d for in Jesus His Son you shall find Him.\xa0 Though raised in a humble family in the town of Nazareth, this is He who raises all His chosen unto heaven, who brings salvation to His people.\xa0 And so rejoice indeed \u201cyou descendants of Abraham, His servants, sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!\u201d for even as \u201cthere came forth from one man, himself as good as dead,\u201d innumerable descendants, even as the Lord fulfilled His promise to Abraham by the birth of Isaac, so the Lord\u2019s promise to Simeon \u201cthat he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord\u201d is fulfilled in all our midst even this day.\xa0 Listen to the prophet\u2019s proclamation: the light has come!\xa0 We are no longer in darkness, no longer in mournful anticipation.\xa0 And so with Anna we should come forward now and speak \u201cabout the child\u201d to all who will listen, to all who long to hear the good news of God. Brothers and sisters, let the Lord grow in our midst.\xa0 In this Holy Family that is His Church let Him be nurtured and known.\xa0 For God\u2019s favor rests upon Him alone and by no other child does salvation come.\xa0 Today He is presented to all waiting hearts. Written & chanted by James Kurt; read by Sylvia Kurt; produced by Roger Fortney. Music by Abouna Joseph; used by permission. ******* O LORD, let your Word be fulfilled in the lives of all your children \u2013 let our eyes see your salvation. YHWH, your Word you fulfill in our midst for you are faithful.\xa0 Your Christ you send among us to save us from our sins that we might be as your children forever.\xa0 Let us enter your generation, LORD, and be of your Holy Family. Your Son has become our brother and so we know you as our Father, LORD.\xa0 Your promise is fulfilled and He now dwells among us \u2013 and so you, too, are with us.\xa0 From the womb of the Virgin Mary is born a Child with whom we grow into your holy image; we are made pure as she by the grace upon her Son. In Nazareth let us make our home, O LORD, with Jesus and Mary and Joseph; then our home in Heaven will be secure and even here we will have your blessing.\xa0 Though a sword must pierce our heart as it has with Jesus and Mary and Joseph and all your saints, yet we shall rejoice in your goodness toward us, that you make us fruitful with Abraham as children of a living faith.\xa0 Let us become strong and wise in your sight.