In our reading today we learn of Magi that come from the East. The Magi were the educated elite of the time of Christ. They were well connected, wealthy, and practiced astrology. In our story, we look at the strange idea of pagans coming to worship the new king of Israel. 

David calls for God to intervene and punish the evildoer in today's Psalm. 

On Pentecost, a great miracle occurs. The Holy Spirit comes and we witness the birth of a new time in the history of God's people. This event is tied together with great events in the past in Sacred Scripture but it looks ahead to a new dawning of hope for man. 

The task before the Apostles was massive! Jesus had gone up into heaven and they were waiting for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus had promised. Oh, and they needed to select someone to take the place of Judas! But they started with something we so often neglect - Prayer.

Jesus responds to his disciple's last question before ascending into Heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father.

Luke wrote the gospel of Luke and the book of Acts as a two-volume set. In Luke, he begins with the life of Christ, and by the time we get to the end of Acts the Jesus movement (the church) has reached Rome. 

In this hymn of David, we meet David in a very low time of his life. He is on the run for his life but he still puts his trust in God. David praises the Lord and invites the reader to taste and see that the Lord is good. 

The Christ-child has been brought to the Temple by His parents to be dedicated to the Lord. The Holy Family meets two people that are only mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. Both Simeon and Anna are advanced in years and have been waiting for the coming of the Messiah. 

Simeon waited his whole life to see the Messiah. Not only did he get to see Him, he got to hold Him! So what is it we long for in our lives? 

We read of Mary's piety and devotion to the Law as she takes Jesus to be circumcised and participate in purification rites after Jesus' birth.