Promises Kept

29 Dec

“Promises are only as strong as the person who gives them.” ~ Stephen Richards

The birth of Jesus was the fulfillment of a promise that God made to His people centuries before.  After they sinned against Him, He promised that He would send a savior who would redeem them.  They waited for a long time for the fulfillment of that promise.  Many lost heart and gave up hope that the promise would ever be fulfilled.  However, when God promises, God delivers.

In the fullness of time, Jesus was, indeed, born to His people.  He came in order that He could live among His people, teaching them, guiding them, and pointing the way to the Father.

In today’s Gospel, Simeon was one of the people who had received a promise from God.  He was told that he would not die until he had an opportunity to see for himself the promised one of God.  When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him to God, Simeon saw Jesus and knew that the promise made to him by God had just come about.

The Church uses Simeon’s proclamation each night in our Liturgy of the Hours when we pray: “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace,
your word has been fulfilled:
my own eyes have seen the salvation
which you prepared in the sight of every people,
a light to reveal you to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel.”

God does fulfill His promises.  It is incumbent upon us to recognize that and to give Him the thanks and praise that He deserves for making it happen.

FAITH ACTION:  Call to mind the many things that God has done for you this week and give Him the thanks that is His due.