February 02, 2014
Presentation of the Lord
Recently Pope Francis released a white dove or pigeon (symbol of peace and the Holy Spirit) that was attacked by a crow and then a seagull! Hopefully the dove found its way to the Papal Gardens. Mary and Joseph come to the temple with Jesus and a pair of turtledoves or pigeons as an offering. St. Luke, the evangelist, is joining two rituals in his Gospel infancy narrative: the purification of the mother after the birth of a baby and the presentation or consecration of the firstborn male child to God. Simeon and Anna, two elderly faithful Jews, are at the temple. They see the child as the messiah, a light to the nations and the glory of Israel. Simeon and Anna set an example for us. Do we recognize Jesus in our midst? Here in the assembly gathered in praise and prayer? Here in the proclamation of the Word? Here in the breaking of the bread and the blessing of the cup? Jesus is with us as God’s salvation! When we are aware of Jesus present or being with us everything changes. Today the media will be fixed on New Jersey for the Super Bowl. The game is being played in MetLife Stadium. I have my insurance and retirement with MetLife but whatever the company may provide pales in comparison to life in Christ. Watching the ads on TV we will be enticed to buy things and services we don’t need that will not change the quality of our lives. Only when we experience life in Christ do we become a light to the nations.
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3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
