Solemnity of the Presentation

of the Child Jesus

      Waiting. Confusion. Unknowing. Nobody likes these feelings. I was thrust into this whirlwind of darkness last year. For months, I was discerning between two life options that could change my direction forever. They were both good, so the choice wasn’t easy.

       During those moments, my prayer was that God would give me an assurance of my choice. But there was none. He was silent and still. And I felt I was so alone.

         Then as I was driving home one night, I heard a familiar song on the radio. It spoke to me. “The smile on your face lets me know that you need me, there’s a truth in your eyes saying you’ll never leave me. The touch of your hand says you’ll catch me wherever I fall. You say it best when you say nothing at all.” My eyes welled up as I sang this as my love song to God.

         Sometimes, it’s when God is silent that He calls for more trust. He wants us to have faith that He is in control. He wants us to hold on because He will give the best to us.

       And like Simeon, the answer came in God’s perfect time. Migs Ramirez (migsramirez.seminars@gmail.com)

Reflection:Have you been waiting for an answer? Enjoy the embrace of God while you wait.

Mama Mary, you had moments of confusion but you kept everything in your heart. May I, too, treasure my moments of unknowing, so that my trust in Jesus increases. Amen.

St. Joan de Lestonnac, pray for us.

Today is the day we celebrate consecrated life in the Church. We pray for men and women in the religious vocation that they will be faithful to their calling and charisms in the way they live. God uses everyone in a unique way to promote the Gospel. May we never lose sight of what God is calling us to do.

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 the days of old, as in years gone by.

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)

The Incarnation of Jesus enabled Him to be our Savior. He became human to redeem us. Only He, who is also God, can redeem humanity from sin. Sinis an affront to the goodness and mercy of God and requires God Himself to overcome it. Some people do not yet realize that Jesus is the Son of God, just as it has taken some time for us to embrace this truth. May our witness help others to realize that Jesus truly is the Son of God who is also human.

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

Mary and Joseph did what the law required of couples with a newborn child. Let us reflect on the words of Simeon who has waited for the Messiah for many years. Let us pray for the grace we need to persevere in our faith and to transform our life. Like Simeon, let us patiently wait for God’s answer to our prayers.

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, 24 and 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 worshipped 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.

think: Do you have a prayer that you feel God has not answered yet? Wait. He is faithful to answer it in His perfect time.

Read the Bible in one year  Acts 17-20

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

GOD IS BEFORE US

The sacrament of reconciliation is my favorite sacrament. I love the way it makes people feel how real God is by experiencing His compassion and love after receiving His forgiveness. The reason is quite clear: We long for holiness and most of us feel holiest after confession.

     It is the desire of any Christian to be holy. Unfortunately, it is something that most of us fail to realize. This is because the world has developed so many distractions and we lose our focus on what is essential. We are easily swayed by the false pretenses of people who claim to really know a lot about life and living. Or simply because we stop trying to be holy, thinking holiness will remain a pie in the sky.

       There was a young boy who was as naughty as naughty can be. He had already been transferred from one school to another to help him with formative interventions offered by the different schools, but to no avail. Finally, his parents transferred him to a Catholic school. And miracle of miracles, the boy changed on day one. Asked why the sudden change in his attitude, the boy replied, “When I saw that man nailed on the cross on every wall of my new school, I knew they really meant business. It was like being told always, ‘Behave or else...’”

       The presence of the crucified Christ changed the boy, although for a different reason. If God is always before us, would it spell a difference on how we do things? If we are attending to our own life concerns and recognize that God is before us, would it make us change our conduct and attitude? I am sure it will. Doing everything in the presence of God is how we become holy. By presenting ourselves before God and doing things like God is before us, our whole disposition on things will be shaped positively. It doesn’t matter if what we are doing are menial things or great things. What matters is how we do them — with a clear consciousness of God’s presence. Fr. Sandy Enhaynes

--------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

Do you live your life knowing you are constantly in the presence of God?

Jesus, ever-present Savior, grant me the grace to live a life that is pleasing to You. May my life be lived to glorify You. Amen.