Fifth Day within the Octave of Christmas, December 29, 2021

When Mary and Joseph present Jesus in the Temple they encounter Simeon who has been awaiting the Savior, the Messiah. Upon seeing the Child, Simeon praises God with the words we pray at night prayer, the “Canticle of Simeon.” He also tells Mary some troubling news about Jesus and about her. There is a promise of contradiction and suffering. But this suffering is not without meaning or worth. As human beings we suffer, but as Christians we also know that our suffering is not just simply “a part of life.” There’s something more to it. Keep reading for the full reflection.

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