Today's Gospel December 27, 2020 with the words of Pope Francis

READING OF THE DAY
First Reading

From the book of Gènesi
Jan 15,1: 6-21,1; 13-XNUMX

In those days, the word of the Lord was addressed to Abram in a vision: «Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield; your reward will be very great. "
Abram answered, Lord God, what will you give me? I am leaving without children and the heir of my house is Elièzer of Damascus ». Abram added, "Behold, you have given me no offspring, and one of my servants will be my heir." And behold, this word was addressed to him by the Lord: "This man will not be your heir, but one born of you will be your heir." Then he led him out and said, "Look up to the sky and count the stars, if you can count them," and added, "Such will be your offspring." He believed the Lord, who credited it to him as righteousness.
The Lord visited Sarah, as he had said, and did to Sarah as he promised.
Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son to Abraham in old age, in the time that God had set.
Abraham called his son Isaac who was born to him, whom Sarah had given birth to.

Second reading

From the letter to the Jews
Heb 11,8.11-12.17-19

Brothers, by faith, Abraham, called by God, obeyed by leaving for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and left without knowing where he was going. By faith, Sarah too, although out of age, received the opportunity to become a mother, because she considered the one who promised it worthy of faith. For this reason, from a single man, and moreover already marked by death, a descendants were born as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand that is found along the beach of the sea and cannot be counted. By faith, Abraham, put to the test, offered Isaac, and he, who had received the promises, offered his only-begotten son, of whom it was said: "Through Isaac you will have your descendants." In fact, he thought that God is capable of raising even from the dead: for this reason he also got him back as a symbol.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY
From the Gospel according to Luke
Lc 2,22-40

When the days of their ritual purification were completed, according to the law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] took the child [Jesus] to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord - as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male will be sacred to the Lord »- and to offer a couple of turtle doves or two young doves as a sacrifice, as the law of the Lord prescribes. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon, a righteous and pious man, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had foretold him that he would not see death without first seeing the Christ of the Lord. Moved by the Spirit, he went to the temple and, while his parents brought the baby Jesus there to do what the Law prescribed for him, he too welcomed him in his arms and blessed God, saying: "Now you can leave, oh Lord , may your servant go in peace, according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation, prepared by you before all peoples: light to reveal you to the people and glory of your people, Israel. " Jesus' father and mother were amazed at the things that were said about him. Simeon blessed them and Mary, his mother, said: "Behold, he is here for the fall and resurrection of many in Israel and as a sign of contradiction - and a sword will pierce your soul too - so that your thoughts may be revealed. of many hearts ». There was also a prophetess, Anna, daughter of Fanuèle, of the tribe of Asher. She was very advanced in age, had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, had since become a widow and was now eighty-four. He never left the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and praying. On arriving at that moment, she too began to praise God and spoke of the child to those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, full of wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

WORDS OF THE HOLY FATHER
My eyes have seen your salvation. These are the words we repeat every evening at Compline. With them we conclude the day saying: “Lord, my salvation comes from You, my hands are not empty, but full of your grace”. Knowing how to see grace is the starting point. Looking back, re-reading one's own history and seeing in it the faithful gift of God: not only in the great moments of life, but also in frailties, weaknesses, miseries. To have the right look at life, we ask to be able to see God's grace for us, like Simeon. (Holy Mass on the occasion of the XXIV World Day of Consecrated Life, 1 February 2020