Today, Mother Church invites us to celebrate an important feast, the feast of the presentation of the Lord. To put it in simpler terms, we as Catholics celebrate the day when God who became man goes to the temple that was built to worship him. It is interesting because according to the Gospel proclamation only two people from all those who were present in the temple that day recognized this babe as the one true God. Have you not asked or wondered how it happened? In today’s 1st reading, prophet Malachi tells us that when God sends his messenger he will suddenly appear. To Simeon it would have been a total surprise to see this mother carrying the baby into the temple. But the gospel reveals to us that Sim-e -on was a devout & a righteous man who often pondered on the word of God with an expectant heart to see the Messiah. The Holy Spirit revealed to him that the baby he was seeing was God himself. Do we not like Simeon want to see Him, do we not long to be with Him? Yet how ready are we for that meeting? Our hearts are filled with sin, bitterness, hatred, unforgiveness, greed, jealousy the list goes on. How comfortable are we to stay without going for a good confession? The gospel further tells us that he took the baby into his arms and praised God. How unworthy are we to carry Him as a baby? I often think if I was Simeon, this child would be another ordinary child brought to the temple, I would not recognize God coming into the temple of my heart as a baby or would mother Mary be comfortable in letting this baby go into my arms. Place yourself in my shoes and ask would she let him go into your arms?

But our Lord tells us through the second reading that He has come to our rescue, He is fully aware of our unworthiness and assures us that He is there to help us become righteous. Let us confess as often as possible and till we do that turn to the Lord with the Four Steps and give the absolute & sincere truth of our hearts to Him. Let us ask for the intercession of Mother Mary through the rosary knowing for certain that He will appear suddenly. Let us be ready for Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, give us the grace to recognize the Lord when He comes so that we may not miss out or identify someone else as him. Give us your Holy Spirit to live a righteous life that is pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!