Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. – Hebrews 2:18

       I used to be a gambling addict. I went to casinos and wasted all my money there. I even went to the extreme of pawning some of my stuff. It was tough. Not only was I penniless, my life was also heading for a wreck. But by God’s grace, He made a way to rescue me. I found myself back in His arms.

       I thought that my gambling years were a complete waste of time, thinking that nothing good came out of it — until I started sharing my story.

     Every time I share about my dark and painful past, people are touched. Some who struggle with addiction decide to change their lives and return to God’s embrace. Now I know why I had to go through it.

      The world needs real people who will share real stories of overcoming failure and suffering. Because when we hear an average guy winning his own battles, we think, “If God did it for him, He can also do it for me.”

       Don’t waste your suffering. Velden Lim (veldenlim@gmail.com)

Reflection: God is good at bringing out the good in the bad.

We need to be purified before entering God’s Kingdom. We have sinned and became separated from God. We must be cleansed and refined before we can be welcomed fully into God’s presence. Jesus redeemed us through His death and resurrection. We must submit ourselves to a life of discipleship and receive grace and mercy from Jesus’ victory on the cross.

1 Thus says the Lord God: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; and suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek, and the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. 3 He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord. 4 Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord, as in days of old, as in years gone by.

Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10

R: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!

7 Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (R) 8 Who is this king of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. (R) 9 Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (R) 10 Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory. (R)

Jesus takes on our humanity to fully identify with us. He knows and has experienced what it means to live “in the flesh.” This is the way He can know our struggle against sin and temptation, although He resists and remains sinless. Even as “one of us,” He has the power to redeem us through His divinity. In Christ alone do humanity and divinity meet in one person. Jesus is both fully man and fully God.

14 Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. 16 Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; 17 therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Jesus is presented at the Temple as required by the Law. Jesus does not abolish the Jewish faith but instead fulfills it in His own life. He reinterprets it according to His own life. His self-sacrificing love becomes the key in our understanding of the Law. “If we are without love, we are nothing but empty resounding gongs,” says St. Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians. Let us always read the Word of God through the witness of love we have in Jesus Christ.

A light of revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.

22 When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, 23 just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, 24and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 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. 27 He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, 28 he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: 29 “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” 33 The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 34 and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted 35 — and you yourself a sword will pierce — so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. 38 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. 39 When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

FOR NO OTHER REASON THAN LOVE

I was 16 years old when I first heard of the greatness of the man. I remember being awestruck at reading about how he literally offered his life in place of someone who was much younger, who had a family, and who still had a responsibility ahead of him.

       Three prisoners had escaped from the concentration camp. Ten men were chosen at random to pay for the crime they did not commit. One of them was a youngish man who cried in anguish for his wife and children.

       Like Simeon, the prophet, the occasion proved to be the older man’s shining moment. And like in the case of the venerable prophet, Maximilian Kolbe’s generous act of taking the place of the younger man seemed to drive home a similar message: “You may let me go!”

       St. Maximilian was a martyr of charity. He did not have to die. He did not have to go just yet but he chose to stand in for someone who, in his mind, had more compelling reasons to live.

       Last year, at about this time, we were jarred at the news of 44 policemen mercilessly killed as they served our country and people. Whatever may have been the cause, and whoever may have been responsible, there is no denying the fact that they died not because they wanted to, but because they were sent for a mission that proved to be not only dangerous but disastrous.

       They died so that others might live. They were heroes no less and the nation, although grieving, was also grateful for the valor they showed.

       St. Maximilian was no soldier, but he was just as heroic. He laid down his life for a stranger he had not even met before. His was a selfless love and his self-offering was solely motivated by charity.

       The 44 gallant policemen died heroes’ deaths. Fidelity to duty cost them their lives. Simeon and Maximilian chose to recede from the scene, by choice. Simeon did so for his goal in life was done. But Maximilian chose to do so unbidden, for no other reason but charity. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTION: What are you willing to die for?

Today, I pray, Lord, for all who died selflessly so that others may live. Amen.