Holy Spirit?

We were meditating on the Presentation in the Temple, and particularly on Simeon's response to the Holy Spirit's prompting to go to the temple, and his response to holding the Christ child. Kelly, age 8, asked, “How do we know if the Holy Spirit is really speaking to us?” She deeply considered this question, wondering, “Is it in a dream, or while we are awake? And how do we know for sure that it is the Holy Spirit, and not just our own mind?” This is a profound question.

How Did They Know Him?

To my question of how Simeon and Anna could have known who Jesus was, out of all the people in the Temple, Nyere, 4, responded, "Maybe when he was in Heaven before coming into his mommy's tummy, he talked to them and told them how he loved them."

Did He Know?

During a meditation on the Presentation in the Temple, the overarching theme of all the Infancy Narratives (“Who is this child?”) really surfaced for Ellie (age 8). She asked, “Did Jesus when He was a baby know that He was God?” As a catechist, I responded, “Well, we know that Jesus was a real baby, and as a person He saw the world as a baby does. We also know that Jesus was truly God, who is all-knowing.” The interchange was followed by a period of silence, but it was the full sort of silence that is truly a response to a mystery.

He told them how he loved

To my question of the Simeon and Anna could have known who Jesus was among all the people in the Temple when Jesus was presented there as a child, Nadia, age 4, responded, Maybe when he was in heaven before coming into his mommy’s tummy, he talked to them and told them how he loved.”

Simeon and Christ the Lord

Of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple, Frida wrote, "Simeon new that God wouldn't let him die until he saw Christ the Lord. After Christ the Lord was born the angel said that Jesus was born to the shepherds. Christ the Lord."

The Presentation at the Temple

We were meditating on the Presentation in the Temple, and particularly on Simeon's response to the Holy Spirit's prompting to go to the temple, and his response to holding the Christ child. Kristina, age 8, asked, “How do we know if the Holy Spirit is really speaking to us?” She deeply considered this question, wondering, “Is it in a dream, or while we are awake? And how do we know for sure that it is the Holy Spirit, and not just our own mind?” This is a profound question.

During the same presentation, the overarching theme of all the Infancy Narratives (“Who is this child?”) really surfaced for Eleanor (age 8). She asked, “Did Jesus when He was a baby know that He was God?” This is a mystery people have pondered for ages. The catechist responded, “Well, we know that Jesus was a real baby, and as a person He saw the world as a baby does. We also know that Jesus was truly God, who is all-knowing.” The interchange was followed by a period of silence, but it was the full sort of silence that is truly a response to a mystery.