By Gilderious Khonglah csc.
Readings: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35
Today is the fifth day in the Octave of Christmas.
The gospel presents Simeon as a great example of faith and patience in waiting for God’s promises. He was a just and devout man, whose whole life was in tune with the Holy Spirit. He gladly accepted the mission God called him to perform with a fervent prayer and patient expectation.
As the years passed, he never lost hope. He was found daily in the temple, praying and worshiping God, and faithfully waiting for the day that the Lord would comfort his people. This is the life we are called to, for we are the people of hope. We should not expect that everything will happen according to our own will. God knows what is best for us in his time and his place.
Life is full of problems and challenges. We should face them with discernment and see whether our actions will make us or break us. We do not know what lies ahead of us, or how situations will be resolved. We must trust God, because he does not give us problems that we cannot fix and overcome. St. Thomas Becket teaches us to be men of duty and to serve Christ and his people as our only true master. He encourages us to love the Church and defend it, if necessary, not with stubbornness or pride, but out of love for Christ. Let us always pray to God and he will be our guide along the way.