"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience," (Col 3:12)

Reading I - Gn15:1-6;21:1-3

The word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying: “Fear not, Abram! I am your shield; I will make your reward very great. ”But Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what good will your gifts be, if I keep on being childless and have as my heir the steward of my house, Eliezer? ”Abram continued,“ See, you have given me no offspring, and so one of my servants will be my heir. ”Then the word of the LORD came to him:“ No, that one shall not be your heir; your own issue shall be your heir. ”The Lord took Abram outside and said,“ Look up at the sky and count the stars, if you can.Just so,” he added, “shall your descendants be.” Abram put his faith in the LORD, who credited it to him as an act of righteousness.

The LORD took note of Sarah as he had said he would; he did for her as he had promised. Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time that God had stated.Abraham gave the name Isaac to this son of his whom Sarah bore him.

Responsorial Psalm - Ps 105:1-2, 3-4,5-6,8-9

Brothers and sisters: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a placet hat he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go.By faith he received power to generate, even though he was past the normal age--and Sarah herself was sterile--for he thought that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy.So it was that there came forth from one man, himself as good as dead, descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore.

By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.

Alleluia - Heb 1:1-2

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets;

in these last days, he has spoken to us through the Son.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel - Lk 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, They took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord,  Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, He took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Master, you may let your servant goin peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted —and you yourself a sword will pierce— so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. ”There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. 

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

The family that comes from the union of the love of a man and a woman is a gift of God into which He Himself enters with His blessing. Today's Gospel is proof of this truth. God came into the world through the family, showing how important place every family has in God's heart. Jesus had a family made not of angels or some other super creatures, but of us humans, of Mary and Joseph, who were and are like us. How is the Holy Family different from your family? Because Jesus was in it? And in your family, there is no Jesus, no faith, no prayer, no trust? And even if there isn't, you can always invite Jesus to your home and accept Him as a family member. How is the Holy Family different from your family? By being preserved from suffering? She was not free from suffering, because, as we know from the Gospel, she also suffered from the very beginning, when she was abandoned in Bethlehem, fled to Egypt from Herod's hatred, and then lived in poor conditions in Nazareth. That is why we can easily find our families in the Holy Family and feel a special bond with them. Today's Gospel presents the moment of the presentation of Jesus in the temple, which is required by law, but also by the love of Mary and Joseph. Although we know that the Law had no power over Jesus, because He is the Son of God, he submitted himself to the Law to show us that we are the Lord’s relatives, that God wants to enter our family life and become an important part of it. Is this really the case in my life and my family? Who does my life belong to? What do I represent with my life? What do I contribute to the lives of my loved ones? It is true that through baptism I belong to God, but do I live the grace of this baptism, developing God's life in myself and helping to develop it in the hearts of my loved ones? Does my family belong to God? Have I offered it to God and repeat this offering every day in my prayer? Let us see in this Gospel that Mary and Joseph bring the child to the temple together and offer Jesus to God together. Do you bring each other in prayer and offer yourselves to God together as a family? If you spiritually stop watching over yourself and calling on God's grace for your family, evil may enter into your life in the form of quarrels, anger, complaining, and unforgiveness, which will break your family unity. Your prayer has great power because it flows from connected hearts full.

Father Marcin Cwierz, OSPPE

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"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience," (Col 3:12)