Friday, December 30, 2011

Today is the first day this week that I've really felt like myself again. Since the Flyzone (Flylady.net) for the rest of the month is the living room, I decided to tackle the bookcase. The tangle of wires behind the TV has been driving me nuts for quite a while so I straightened that up as best one can when there are a zillion things plugged in back there. 

As I was sorting through the books, I found one about St. Therese of Lisieux. She was the favored saint of my friend Marian Pryor who passed away last January. She's been on my mind lately because this time last year, John, Bea, Sabina and I went to visit her at Covenant in Saginaw. We didn't know it would be our last time with her. Marian gave me many books during our friendship and she always wrote something inside the front cover. This was written inside the book I opened today.

Word of the day:
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph - Feast
Saint(s) of the day : St. Sabinus, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs († c. 303)
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 2:22-40.

When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord,

just as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,"

and to offer the sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons," in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord.

He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,

he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word,

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel."

The child's father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;

and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.

And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.