The Presentation of the Lord

Discussion Questions

1. Who is someone in your life today that you might consider a faith-filled elder? Is there some wisdom that this person shared that may have impacted you?
2. What is the most challenging thing today about communicating with elders in your family, neighborhood or parish? What might be the blessings?
3. As an elder, what might be your greatest piece of lived faith wisdom that you might share?
4. When you become a faith elder someday, how do you hope to impact the next generations?

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Live Connected – Simple Ways to Keep the Message Alive During The Week

Be intentional about spending time with faith elders Ask specific questions about their lives and how their faith influenced them in good times and difficult times Spend some time with your memories of an elder who may have passed, recall a story or a quotation, write it down and share it with the next generation

Attitude/Heart Change

To actively listen to the stories of the elders in my family, neighborhood and parish family and to ask God to help me to hear the wisdom for my life

Action/Life Change/ Heart Change

To actively listen to the stories of the elders in my family, neighborhood and parish family and to ask God to help me to hear the wisdom for my life family, neighborhood and parish community

Scripture Focus

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout… It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit in the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God…..

There was also a prophetess, Anna…She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped day and night with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

Elders of the Jewish Community

Next to Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Simeon and Anna are key to this Sunday’s Gospel. They recognized Jesus.

Holy Elder’s In Our Lives

Parents, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents and Parish Elders

Grandmother Susan

Friendship with Jesus was deep and strong. Stayed faithful in the midst of physical diminishment

Pope Francis

To the Elderly: “You are an important presence, because your experience is a precious treasure, indispensable for looking to the future with hope and responsibility. Your maturity and wisdom, gathered over the years, can help the younger ones, supporting them on the way of growth and openness to the future, and in their search for their own path.”

Pope Francis’ Message from His Grandma: Points to comfort in time of pain