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Every other creature in nature is simply itself, without this discord which is our constant lot. That is why we can study everything else in nature much more surely than we can study ourselves. With ourselves, all we have
to go on is an occasional glimpse of some small part of the truth, and we must be content with that, knowing that we are truly known by Him who alone knows us.
- Paul Tournier (1898-1986), The Meaning of Persons
(To know ourselves as we are known by God . . . a good New Year goal to consider.)
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1 JN 2:3-11; PS 96:1-2A, 2B-3,
5B-6
LK 2:22-35
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
the parents of Jesus took him 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 Christ 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:
"Lord, now 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."
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."
USCCB Lectionary
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Luke 2: 22-35 (Jesus' consecration)
Always good Jews, Joseph and Mary are faithful in observing the Mosaic Law. Their consecration of Jesus follows an ancient tradition. Simeon's words on this occasion describe some of the roles the Messiah is to play.
* What do you hope to accomplish and/or become before you die? What are you doing now to help realize this dream?
* What is it
about your work that contributes to the building of God's kingdom on earth? Paperback, Kindle
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God and I: Exploring the Connections between God, Self and Ego, by Philip St. Romain, 2016 (2nd ed.) ____________ Chapter 6: The Journey to Individuation: The Ego-Self Relationship About everything that exists we may assert two things: one, that it is, and two, that it is something in particular. Philosophical approaches based on Aristotle used the term existence in reference to
this first characteristic of is-ness, and essence in reference to the particularity of things. We do not need to be an Aristotelian to recognize this basic fact, however. These two aspects are basic to our perception and understanding of reality. Regarding human beings, we
can affirm as we do of everything else both that we exist, and that we do so as something in particular. In terms of particularity, we can describe characteristics of the human species, in general, then factors like race, gender, nationality and family -- some of these considerations being biological, others psychological and cultural. Where we inevitably end up as we drill down from more general to narrow descriptors is the individual human person, who is the most basic unit
of the human species. Human consciousness resides in human individuals; smaller units like human organs, tissues and cells are alive, too, of course, but not as agents of human activity. Only individual humans are agents of human activity; families, governments and so forth act because individuals act cooperatively in pursuit of certain goals or values. Hardback, paperback, eBook and free preview versions.
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