Lectionary: 387
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| Saint Augustine Zhao Rong |
On his arrival in the region of Goshen, Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot and rode to meet his father Israel in Goshen. As soon as Joseph saw him, he flung himself on his neck and wept a long time in his arms. And Israel said to Joseph, “At last I can die, now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive.”
Simeon's song in the Gospel of Saint Luke, as holds the Infant Jesus in his arms, echoes Jacob's prayer when "he flung himself on Joseph's neck and wept a long time." Although he had eleven other sons, most of them of his first wife Leah, Joseph was the firstborn son of his favorite Rachel. Even in his old age he saw his wife's features in the Egyptianized son. How could he not weep to have the child of her body back in his arms?
His and Simeon's forlorn hope and answered prayers should find resonance in our daily prayers. We long to see justice and peace in our families, churches, cities, and nations. We know these blessings are promised despite the 24-hour news cycle that hammers us with both the world's agony and the world's beliefs about what should be done. Everyone has a solution, no one has an answer, and still we grieve with no hope in sight.
"It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord."
Receiving the Eucharist, we too hold the Messiah in our hands. That truth is just as real to us as it was to Simeon. If, with the eyes of faith, he saw the world's salvation in a baby of forty days, we can see the Infinite Glory of God in the Eucharist.
Of course, we see and do not see. As Saint Paul said:
For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance.
In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God’s will. Romans
We live in that "already/not yet" which we call faith. We have our collective experience of God's fidelity to assure us, and the Longing Spirit in our hearts that waits, watches, hopes, and prays.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.