Gn 15:1-6; 21:1-3
Abraham throughout the centuries has been appropriately referred to as our father in faith. Note that Abrahan was formerly called Abram which is translated as lofty or exalted father. After the promise of God has been fulfilled and Sarah gives birth to Isaac his name is changed to Abraham which means father of the multitude. When the power of God and our response in faith meet, miracles happen. Abraham and Sarah who are childless are now advanced in years, far beyond natural childbearing; yet, through the power of God they bring forth a miraculous birth. Through the offspring of Issac, Abraham becomes the father of the multitude and our father in faith.
Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Psalm 105 is a song celebrating Israel’s history from Abraham to the Exodus. It is a celebration of God’s faithfulness to His Covenant with the people. It is important to note the Jewish notion of God’s remembrance, i.e. we continue to exist because God holds us in his memory. That memory is steadfast and eternal. When God chooses to remember not our sins, our sins cease to exist. From this promise, the promise of His love and mercy, we give thanks to the Lord, praise His name, and proclaim His wonderous deeds. Throughout this psalm gratitude to God in being sung.
Heb 11:8, 11-12, 17-19
Chapter 11 of Hebrews is titled Faith of the Ancients. It begins with a definition of faith: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen. Because of it the ancients were well attested. By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the Word of God, so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.” (Heb. 1:1-3) The Greek word for faith is pistis. The etymology of the word supports the definition in Hebrews verse 11:1. Realization and
 vidence are very experiential in nature. We can experience evidential reality in and through the Spiritual realm. Through faith, pistis, the believer can experience and come to know, knosis, in a very real, tangible, and personal way, the invisible world, i.e., invisible reality. It is through that level of faith that the ancients lived and moved. The author of Hebrews speaks of this faith in Abel, in Enoch, in Noah and finally in Abraham. Think of the faith that Abraham must have had to uproot his entire family, and an entire people and begin a blind sojourn. By faith he moved and trusted that God would lead and guide him to a place he knew not. By that same powerful faith, he offered up his only son, Isaac. He had faith in God no matter the cost. through this faith he was able to reason a life beyond death in this world. He had faith that God would provide the Lamb, and God did when He offered His Only Son. This vision of Life beyond the corporeal world in which we live is called faith.
LK 2:22-40
Joseph and Mary are fulfilling the Law prescribed in Leviticus Chapter 12. Note that the law required “a yearling lamb for a holocaust and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering.” (Lev. 12:6). Also, note that there is an exception to this rule: “If, However, she (mother) cannot afford a lamb, she may take two turtledoves or two pigeons, the one for the holocaust and the other for the sin offering.” (Lev. 12:8). I would think that Joseph as a successful carpenter and provider could have afforded a lamb of sacrifice. Perhaps Luke is portraying Jesus as the Lamb of God being offered up to the Father.
Certainly, the Spirit of God is making the long-awaited return to the temple. Throughout his Gospel and Acts of the Apostles St. Luke reverberates the idea of people including Jesus Himself, or especially Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, led by the Holy Spirit, and gifting that same Spirit. Simeon whose name means “God has heard,” is led by the Holy Spirit into the temple. The Holy Spirit is upon him, he came in the Spirit, and the Spirit revealed to him the Savior. In the temple he seems to be giving voice to that same Spirit. It is a universal Spirit and a universal savior. Like the light followed by the Magi, the child is a light to the gentiles, a light for all to see. Luke is proclaiming the gift of salvation of all people. In contrast with the Hebrew notion of
a Savior of Israel from the line of David, Jesus came to save all people. Jesus may be the glory of Israel but, He is the savior of all. The holy prophetess Anna whose name means “grace or favor or gift,” gives thanks to God and speaks of the child to all. Out of gratitude for the gift before her she becomes a witness and an evangelist. The Holy Spirit is evident in her as well.

Mt 2:1-12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.” Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.