Monday 2^nd February – Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Reflection: Luke 2: 22-40

LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT

Baptism is our common entrance into the family of God. Through it, we are regenerated from the corruption of original sin, adopted as children of God, and filled with the Holy Spirit by which we are empowered to live the life of Christ. The Holy Spirit is the seal of God’s ownership of us (Eph 1: 13-14, 2 Cor 1: 22, CCC 1216). The degree to which we freely yield ourselves to Him ultimately determines the depth of our intimacy with God and experience of His power.

Today’s gospel reading brings to fore the life of an upright and devout man, Simon who freely cooperated with the workings of the Holy Spirit in His life and thus experienced the fulfilment of God’s promises to Him. “Prompted by the Spirit, he came to the temple” where he met the child Jesus (Luke 2: 27-32). Beloved in Christ, let us this day examine the state of our relationship with the Holy Spirit. How sensitive are you to the promptings of the Holy Spirit? How freely and fully do you yield yourself to the Spirit’s leading? To be oblivious of the promptings of the Holy Spirit is to walk in the vanity of the human mind (Eph 4: 17-18) while a deliberate rejection of His promptings is clear rebellion to His will and guidance. Both ultimately lead to regret and bondage.

To discern the will of God for our lives, we must have the right disposition of heart – one that seeks to please and honour God at all times. The Holy Spirit only reigns in pure and contrite hearts (Ps 34:18, Mt 5:8). Such are constantly attuned to God in prayer. Dearest in Christ, let us constantly open our minds to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us deliberately make a choice of His will, for it is the pathway to our fulfilment here on earth and the realisation of the supreme promise of God – eternity with Him.

PRAYER: I yield my all to you, Holy Spirit. Please come reign in me that my life may be a true expression of Your will. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 736 – By this power of the Spirit, God’s children can bear much fruit… “We live by the Spirit”; the more we renounce ourselves, the more we “walk by the Spirit.”

HIDE A TREASURE: For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God” Romans 8: 14RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Malachi 3: 1-4; Psalm 24: 7-10; Hebrews 2: 14-18, Luke 2:22-40