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On February 2, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast is also known as Candlemas, since candles are blessed at this Mass. The Law of Moses instructed parents to present their firstborn son in the Temple forty days after birth. Mary and Joseph, filled with the joy of following God’s Law, brought Jesus to Jerusalem. This feast is so important that when it falls on a Sunday, its readings replace those for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The Gospel mentions two important individuals who recognized Jesus at that time: Simeon and Anna. Simeon was a just and devout old man. Moved by the Holy Spirit, he took Jesus in his arms and blessed him, saying that he is the light that will shine upon the nations. There was also a woman named Anna, who served God by fasting and praying. Even though Simeon and Anna were very old, both were full of life because their lives were filled with the Holy Spirit. They were docile to the Spirit’s action and sensitive to its call.
During this encounter, Simeon and Anna received the gift of being face to face with God’s Promised One. Their patience and faith were finally rewarded.
In his Homily for this feast in 2019, Pope Francis said, “[The Presentation] shows Jesus who goes out to meet his people. It is the feast day of encounter. . . . We too are called to welcome Jesus who comes to meet us. To encounter him: the God of life is to be encountered every day of our lives; not now and then, but every day.”
Loving God, open our hearts to be prepared to encounter your love in everything we do and in everyone we meet. Amen.
Every week in the GROW newsletter, you will find helpful tips for teaching your Gospel Weeklies lesson, a reflection on the Sunday Gospel, and links to many online resources.
Videos of the Sunday Gospel (Luke 2:22–40)
Use these videos as you discuss the Sunday Gospel. Please preview all videos you plan to share with your class:
• Holy Heroes
• Jesus Is Dedicated: Luke 2:22–40
• Gospel of Luke: Chapter 2:22–40
• God’s Story: Anna and Simeon
• Gospel Reading and Reflection for Kids
Jubilee 2025: Pilgrims of Hope Resources
• Jubilee 2025 activities, handouts, resources, and more
Seeds
Lesson Theme: Jesus is the Light of the World.
Preschool children like to feel that they are important. In this Seeds lesson, they will explore that everyone is important, even though we are different from each other.
For this lesson, you will need ink pads of different colors, scissors, markers or crayons, glue, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), and a Church Year calendar.
For the activity on page 2, the children will use ink pads to put their thumbprints on each other’s pages. We recommend you have a wet towel or disposable wipes, so the children can clean their thumbs after the activity. Remember not to touch their clothes before cleaning their thumbs!
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
Extending Activities
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflections and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Promise
Lesson Theme: Jesus is the Light of the World.
For this lesson, gather drawing paper, crayons, tape, copies of the story coloring page (one per child), a Bible, and a Church Year calendar. We suggest that you separate pages 1–2 from 3–4 before your class session.
Promise children are still very much concrete thinkers, so thinking of Jesus as a light might be a challenge for many of them. You may wish to say that Jesus is like a light to help them make the connection. He is not a candle flame, flashlight, or lamp. He does light our way on earth and to Heaven. While we know that Jesus is the Light of the World, these young children may need help grasping this abstract concept.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Word of the Week
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• Gospel Reflections and Saint of the Week with Miss Heidi
• Kid-Sized Lessons on the Sunday Gospel with Mrs. Cole (Bible Bag)
Good News
Lesson Theme: Jesus is a light for all people.
For this lesson, you will need tape, pencils, crayons, and a Church Year calendar.
Good News children are still concrete thinkers, so thinking of Jesus as a light might be a challenge for them. You may wish to say that Jesus is like a light to help them make this important connection. He is not a candle flame, flashlight, or lamp. He does light our way on earth and to Heaven. While we know that Jesus is the Light of the World, the children may need help grasping this abstract concept. The story about Aidan being a “light” for Toby through his kind action and the “How Can You Shine?” activity will help make the idea of being a light more real to them. Our kind words and actions are ways that we let Jesus’ light shine through us.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Venture
Lesson Theme: We follow the light of Jesus.
For this lesson, gather pens or pencils, scissors, tape, colored pencils or markers, Bibles and rosaries (one each per child), several votive candles or tea lights, and a Liturgical Year calendar.
This lesson includes a page about the virtue of hope and the Jubilee of Hope. You may wish to help the children connect the experience of hoping with the Gospel message that Jesus is the light and hope for all people. Explore with the children what feelings light and hope evoke and what a big and positive difference light and hope make in our lives.
On page 8 of the lesson, the text refers to Holy Doors being opened at other churches around the world. This was an innovation of Pope Francis for the Jubilee of Mercy in 2015–2016. For the Jubilee of Hope 2025, the Pope returned to the tradition of having Holy Doors only in the four papal basilicas in Vatican City and Rome and has added a Holy Door in a prison chosen by him. There are, however, local cathedrals and other significant churches that are designated as special places of pilgrimage and prayer for the Jubilee 2025. The Jubilee Indulgence may be obtained if certain conditions are met. Find out more here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• What Are the Parts of the Mass?
• This Was the Opening of the Holy Door
Visions
Lesson Theme: Jesus is the Promised One, our light.
For this lesson, gather pencils or pens, Bibles (one per student), slips of paper, and a hat or small basket.
While not a direct connection to the Gospel, this lesson includes doctrine about the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and a feature about the World Day of the Sick on February 11 (page 8). The Gospel themes of Jesus being a light for all people and how Jesus came to bring hope to all people (see Celebrate the Jubilee on pages 6–7) do relate. While on earth, Jesus healed many people of their physical ailments and forgave their sins. He gave them hope–of a better life here on earth and of eternal life with God in Heaven. He shines the way for us on our earthly paths as well as to Heaven.
On page 6 of the lesson, the text in the green box refers to Holy Doors being opened at other churches around the world. This was an innovation of Pope Francis for the Jubilee of Mercy in 2015–2016. For the Jubilee of Hope 2025, the Pope returned to the tradition of having Holy Doors only in the four papal basilicas in Vatican City and Rome and has added a Holy Door in a prison chosen by him. There are, however, local cathedrals and other significant churches that are designated as special places of pilgrimage and prayer for the Jubilee 2025. The Jubilee Indulgence may be obtained if certain conditions are met. Find out more here.
Teaching Guide
Parent Teaching Pages
The Gospel at Home
Weekly Review Template
Lesson Assessment
Seasonal Resources
Videos
• This Was the Opening of the Holy Door
• World Day of the Sick
Image credit: Julia Raketic/Shutterstock.com
