Sunday Feb. 2, 2014 - The Future Generation

Gospel lk 2:22-40

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus 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 go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the 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 child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.”

My brothers and sisters in Christ one thing we can all agree on is that we wish the very best for our children.  We hope and pray they receive the wonderful gift of our Catholic Faith and eventually become productive and participating members of our parish community.  However, on the occasion of our Centennial, we must refortify the solid foundation of Faith which was constructed for us so many years ago, by those who came before us, and upon which the next generations will build their “house” upon.  In truth, we celebrate and remember those who worked so hard in the past, we unite with all our brothers and sisters in Christ who toil in the fields of the Lord presently, and we nurture and welcome with great delight the future generations that will call St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church their home.  And so as we begin the celebration of our 100 year anniversary let us RENEW FAITH, BUILD COMMUNION, AND INSPIRE HOPE!  Let us do our part in working to pass on the wonderful gift of Faith and show through our actions what it means to be dedicated to our parish community. And let our prayer rise to our heavenly father that all our little ones may grow strong in the Faith, be filled with the Wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and find favor and Blessings from our magnificent God!  Blessings. Fr. Steven