Daily Catholic Lectio
Mon, 29 December ‘25
Christmas Octave – Fifth Day
1 John 2:3-11. Luke 2:22-35
Light that Reveals
As we continue our celebration of Christmas in these sacred days, the Church places before us today the gentle yet powerful figure of Simeon. He does not speak much, he performs no miracle, yet his words shine with extraordinary clarity. Through him, we discover what true light does: it reveals.
A poor child in a poor offering
Mary and Joseph come to the Temple to present their child to the Lord. Luke carefully notes that they offer “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” This was the offering of the poor. When the Son of God is presented to God, he stands not at the front, but at the end of the line—with the poor, the unnoticed, the ordinary.
God’s light does not first appear in power or privilege. It appears in poverty and simplicity. Light reveals where God truly chooses to dwell.
Simeon: a man attuned to the Spirit
At this moment, Simeon enters the Temple, moved by the Holy Spirit. Every day many children were brought to the Temple, yet on this day Simeon recognises this one child. How?
Because Simeon was a man who waited, listened, and stayed attentive. His life was not noisy. His heart was not crowded. He was able to hear the quiet prompting of the Spirit. Only those who wait can recognise. Only those who are silent within can see clearly.
This invites us to ask: What noise within me prevents me from hearing the Spirit? Light reveals not only God’s presence, but also our inner distractions.
Holding the Light
Simeon takes the child into his arms. Holding a child is an art. In his fragile hands, Simeon holds the hope of Israel, the salvation of the nations. And then something remarkable happens: he lets go. He does not cling. He does not possess. Having seen the Messiah, his search is complete. His waiting finds fulfilment. “Now, Lord, you may let your servant go in peace.” Letting go is often painful, but without letting go, there is no peace. Simeon teaches us that fulfilment in life does not come from holding on endlessly, but from recognising when a gift has been received and trusting it back to God. Attachments, if we are not careful, become burdens. Light reveals when it is time to release.
Light as love
Both readings today revolve around the image of light.
In the First Letter of John, light is not defined as knowledge or ritual, but as love: “Whoever loves their brother or sister remains in the light.”
Hatred is darkness. Love is light. This light is practical. It reveals how we treat one another. We cannot claim to walk in the light while wounding others through indifference, bitterness, or exclusion.
In the Gospel, Simeon proclaims Jesus as “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” Jesus does not merely give light; he is the light. In him, God reveals his heart—merciful, inclusive, saving.
Light that reveals our path
The light of Christ reveals: who God is, who we are, and how we are called to live. It reveals that waiting is not wasting time, that fulfilment comes from encounter, and that love is the true test of faith.
Three invitations for today
Today’s Word leaves us with three clear invitations: First, to wait with patience and hope. Simeon shows us that waiting shaped by trust leads to clarity and peace. Second, to carry the joy of the Messiah in our hands and in our hearts. Like Simeon, we are invited to hold Christ—especially in the Eucharist—and allow that encounter to fulfil us. Third, to walk in the light by loving one another. Love is not optional. It is the proof that we live in the light.
Conclusion
The light of Christmas does not only comfort; it reveals. It reveals our distractions, our attachments, and our calling. May Simeon teach us to wait, to recognise, and to let go. May Christ, the true light, help us walk in love—so that our lives too may become light that reveals God to the world.
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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