Readings
I - 1Jn. 2: 3-11
II - Lk. 2: 22-35
St. Thomas Becket, Bishop, Martyr (Memorial)
SUBMIT UNTO THE WAYS OF THE LORD
The Gospel passage of the day invites us to reflect upon: submission to the Law of the Lord, Submission to the promises of the Lord and submission to the Will of the Lord. In submission to the Law of the Lord, the parents of Jesus presented their first born in the temple offering a pair of doves as prescribed by the Law. In submission to the promises of the Lord, Simeon waited patiently in the temple to behold the deliverer, the consolation of Israel, the Messiah; and recognised him as he was brought even as a babe into the temple by his parents. In submission to the will of God, Mary gave no response to the prophecy of Simeon: “…And a sword will pierce your own soul too”; but kept all these things and pondered them in her heart (Lk. 2: 19).
Submission unto the ways of the Lord is the hallmark of Christian living. Submission bases humility, simplicity, trust, faith and confidence in the Lord. May this Gospel passage enlighten, enkindle and enthuse us to live like the parents of Jesus in submitting ourselves to the Law of the Lord: Love; like Simeon, to submit ourselves unto the promises of the Lord and like our Blessed Mother, to submit ourselves to the Will of the Lord and that would be our best gift to him during this season of Christmas.
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. He was martyred because he preferred to submit himself unto the ways of the Lord than to the order of the king of Canterbury. Through the intercession of this saint let us ask God to give us the courage and humility to submit ourselves unto His ways as we keep in the silence of our hearts keep repeating this prayer: “Lord Jesus, teach us to submit ourselves unto your ways”.
