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When Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple, they brought a small offering of turtledoves. This humble offering was one that poorer families could afford to bring with them. The Holy Family brought the little they had when consecrating their son to God.
In this week’s Gospel, Jesus fills the nets of Peter and his fellow fisherman until they are overflowing. He then tells them that going forward they will be fishers of men.
Being an observant Jewish couple, it stands to reason that Mary and Joseph went to the Temple for Mary’s purification—as prescribed by Mosaic Law—40 days after Jesus’ birth. The blessing of candles and the procession of light were added to this feast, giving it the popular name “Candlemas.”
The fact of our baptism means that we have a vocation–a call–that’s just as certain as our Biblical heroes today.
The encounter in the temple with Simeon and Anna show us people finding God in their midst where they had been looking all along.
Like David, we too are called to love those who have done us wrong, perhaps in demanding dimensions. Interpersonal relations are seldom simple.
Jesus has power over evil. He can free afflicted individuals and control whole armies of demons. Jesus can liberate us too, if we let him.
During World War II, Fr. Maximilian Kolbe was arrested and taken to Auschwitz. During his imprisonment, a prisoner escaped, and as a result, the commandant announced ten men would die. In cell block 11, there was no screaming–rather the prisoners sang and Fr. Kolbe prayed with them.
Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska founded the Felician Sisters as a result of a conversion experience she had while convalescing from an illness. At the age of 44 she was forced to resign due to ill health. She lived however, into her ’70s.
Brother Juniper was a simple man who joined Saint Francis in the earliest days of the Order. While Saint Francis praised him and wished he had a “whole forest of such Junipers,” nevertheless, he could be exasperating for his generosity. Even saints can be frustrating.
