Homily – The Presentation of the Lord (C)

Sometimes we wait like children before Christmas.  That’s easy waiting, because it’s certain.

But what if – through faith – we are certain something we desperately want will come, but we have no date – so it is only our faith to keep us going?

Waiting and expectation go hand-in-hand for the long-suffering Jewish people, this was the case for the arrival of their Messiah and what they are expecting.

We are reminded this week that God works in God’s own time and at a pace outside of anyone’s estimation.  The last of the prophets to write, written under a pseudonym Malachi, reflected on Christ’s long awaited coming “And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Who will be able to resist the day of his coming?  Who will remain standing when he appears?”

The prophets, Simeon and Anna, responded to God’s coming with an openness of mind right up to their final moments of life.  They were open as to how the Messiah might come – as a defenceless child.

Their presence in the temple indicate an openness from time spent in contemplation.  I found a useful definition of contemplation from a diocesan website that is worth sharing: Contemplation may be described as simply resting in God’s presence.  Some see it as a way of ‘looking’ at God and listening with the heart.  We do not have to ‘do’ much in this form of prayer.  This is attentive waiting for God to meet us and to be with us.

By Fr Hoang Dinh

 

 

  1. Would it be possible to make the words darker as it is very difficult to read and even when printed the contrast is not great between the print and the background. Thankyou for your Homily

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