Purification

Reflection

In Jewish teaching, after a women gives birth, she is to bring her child to the Temple to be purified.  This act is good to reflect on as a beautiful memory.  But purification is a need for us today.  It’s good for us to reflect on our need for purification and how we express it.

In our Catholic Christian experience, we have many chances to seek purification.  We start Mass with an act of contrition for our sins.  Also in the Sacrament of Reconciliation we seek purification from our sins.

Another simple but powerful act of purification happens when we enter church and dip our finger into holy water.  This is an act of purification.  We recall the purification of our baptism.

Scripture

Luke
Chapter: 2

²²The time came for Mary and Joseph to do what the Law of Moses says a mother is supposed to do after her baby is born.^f
They took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem and presented him to the LORD,  ²³just as the Law of the Lord says, "Each first-born^g baby boy belongs to the Lord."  ²⁴The Law of the Lord also says that parents have to offer a sacrifice, giving at least a pair of doves or two young pigeons. So that is what Mary and Joseph did. 
²⁵At this time a man named Simeon was living in Jerusalem. Simeon was a good man. He loved God and was waiting for God to save the people of Israel. God's Spirit came to him   ²⁶and told him that he would not die until he had seen Christ the Lord. 
²⁷When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to do what the Law of Moses says should be done for a new baby, the Spirit told Simeon to go into the temple.   ²⁸Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and praised God,

²⁹"Lord, I am your servant,
 and now I can die in peace,
because you have kept your promise to me.
³⁰With my own eyes I have seen
 what you have done to save your people,
³¹ and foreign nations will also see this.
³²Your mighty power is a light for all nations,
and it will bring honor to your people Israel." 

³³Jesus' parents were surprised at what Simeon had said.   ³⁴Then he blessed them and told Mary, "This child of yours will cause many people in Israel to fall and others to stand. The child will be like a warning sign. Many people will reject him,   ³⁵and you, Mary, will suffer as though you had been stabbed by a dagger. But all this will show what people are really thinking."

Prayer

Lord, I fall so short of my own expectations in life.  Oh, and then there are your expectations of me.  I’ve failed in the high goals I set for myself.  I’ve failed in the direction you’ve set for me in my life.  I need to forgive myself.  I need to seek your forgiveness.  Purify me, Lord, from my sins and failings.  Amen