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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.
The purpose of spiritual law is simply to sharpen our awareness about who we are and who God is, so that we can name our own insufficiency and find God’s fullness.
Like David, we too are called to love those who have done us wrong, perhaps in demanding dimensions. Interpersonal relations are seldom simple.
Walking becomes the place of possibility, intimacy, and service. God is our companion as we venture toward new horizons.
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.
