OUR GIFT IS TO GIVE LIGHT TO THE WORLD
Let us always point others to Christ Jesus and be
examples of faith and devotion.
Pope Paul the VI wrote, "Christ Himself
says, 'I AM the Light of the World.' And we are the light, we ourselves, if we
receive it from Him... But how do we receive it, how do we make it shine?...
[T]he candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark
of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure,
straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exhausts itself in
silent sacrifice." How beautiful!
As we celebrate this Feast of the Presentation
we can't help but see that, like most loving parents, Mary and Joseph want the
best for their Son. They are faithful parents who desire for their Child to be
raised in the faith that has sustained them throughout their lives. They take
Jesus to the Temple to be consecrated and presented to God His Father, and it
is there that they meet Simeon and Anna, elders of the community. They
immediately recognize Jesus as the Messiah, the fulfillment of God's promise to
Israel, a Light to the whole world.
During your reflection today, think about what
we can do to call forth the gifts of a child that we know, and encourage them
to use their gifts to give light to the world! Let us always point others to
Christ Jesus and be examples of faith and devotion. May we also be able to say,
like Simeon, "For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You prepared in
the sight of all the peoples" (Lk 2:30-31)!