Sunday Within Octave of Christmas, Dec. 30, 2012

Sunday Within the Octave of Christmas – December 30, 2012

Epistle Galatians 4: 1-7                    Gospel Luke 2: 33-40

Just before today’s reading Simeon recites his canticle after taking the Christ Child in his hands: (Luke. 2: 29-32):

“Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace;

Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,

Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.”

Then Simeon blesses them and turning to Mary prophesies that, “This child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted.”  Understand in these words that there is a harmony in prophesies, because the same God speaks both in the Old Testament Prophets and in the New Testament. That is why we read Isaiah telling believers in his day that the Messiah would be a “stone of stumbling” – a stumbling block as we say today. (Isaiah 8: 14-15) As St. Peter puts it, “a stone of stumbling and a rock of scandal,” (1 Peter  2: 8) or a “sign of contradiction” as Simeon put it in today’s gospel. Isaiah, St. Peter and Simeon are telling us that although the Messiah comes for the salvation of all, many will not accept Him and they will be lost due to their own unwise choice.

And what of us who fall into sin? Our Savior has given us the means of our resurrection – the Sacrament of Penance, called Confession. When a lustful person becomes chaste, when a miser becomes merciful, when a cruel person becomes gentle then we have a resurrection, because sin has died and justice has arisen.

The sign of contradiction Simeon spoke of is the cross – that the One who promises eternal life, the One Who is Judge of all, is Himself condemned and dies a horrible death on a cross. This is seen by all, but understood only by those of faith.

Simeon also tells Mary, “Thy own soul a sword shall pierce.” Consider ourselves: if we knew what sorrows were in store for us in the future, would we suffer those sorrows every day or our lives in anticipation of their coming?  God has given us the grace of not knowing our future and therefore not having to suffer in anticipation.  As an  angel revealed to St. Bridget, “That sword of sorrow was every hour approaching nearer to the Blessed Virgin, as the time for the Passion of her Son drew near.”

Mary suffered all the contradictions prophesied by Simeon. The High Priest Caiphas called her Son a blasphemer: “He hath blasphemed. He is guilty of death.” (Matthew 26: 65) He was despised as a peasant: “Is not this not the carpenter, the son of Mary?” (Mark 6: 3) He was treated as ignorant: “How doth this man know letters, having never learned?” (John 7: 15) He was mocked as a false prophet when he was blindfolded and struck and they asked Him: “Prophesy, who is it that struck Thee?” (Luke 22: 64) He was treated as a madman: “He is mad, why hear you Him?” (John 10: 20)  “Behold a man that is a glutton, and a drinker of wine, a friend of publicans and sinners.” (Luke 7: 34) He was condemned as a sorcerer: “By the prince of devils He casteth out devils.” (Matthew 9: 34) And he was condemned as a heretic and possessed by the evil spirit: “Do we not say well of Thee that Thou art a Samaritan and hast a devil?” (John 8: 48) Mary’s Son was considered so wicked that the Jews told Pilate that no trial was necessary: “If He were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered Him up to thee.” (John 18: 30) She saw Christ’s Passion approaching and these sorrows, taken to her heart and suffered for 33 years, have made Mary the Refuge of Sinners.

In ancient Judea there were cities that criminals could go to for safety and to escape punishment for their crimes. Today there is only one city left. This city, says St. Albert the Great, is the most holy Virgin Mother of God, fenced in with grace and glory. Go there and be silent says the Prophet Jeremiah. (Jeremias 8: 14) We dare not invoke the Lord Whom we have offended. Be silent and Mary will invoke Him and ask for everything we require to return to grace. +++

Basil of Seleucia¹ (d. c 458-460) encourages sinners, saying,

“O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all thy necessities; call her to thine assistance, for thou wilt always find her ready to help thee; for such is the divine will that she should help all in every kind of necessity.”

We Celebrate the Traditional Tridentine Latin Mass

¹ Seleucia, a great city of Greek and Roman times on the Western Bank of the Tigris near present day Bagdhad. It was probably abandoned after the Tigris shifted course.