Jesus, the light that brings joy

Listening to the Spirit

Prayer for the Year of Consecrated Life

O God, throughout the ages
you have called women and men
to pursue lives of perfect charity
through the evangelical counsels
of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

We give you thanks for these courageous
witnesses of Faith and models of inspiration.
Their pursuit of holy lives teaches us to make
a more perfect offering of ourselves to you.

Continue to enrich your Church
by calling forth sons and daughters who,
having found the pearl of great price,
treasure the Kingdom of Heaven above all things.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Listening to the Word

Luke 2:22-40

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,

“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
according to your word;

for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.”

And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Reflection

The fest of the presentation of the Lord is also known as 'Candelaria.' Throughout this day the faithful bring their candles to be blessed during the mass. However, the focus is not on the candles, but on the light itself which represents Christ as the "light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory of the people of Israel” mentioned by Simeon who found joy in Christ’s consecration. For this reason, Jesus is represented with the light of the candles, He is the light that brings joy.

Mary experienced the joy of Christ's light uniquely. She brought Jesus to the temple after forty days of his birth to fulfill the law. After her purification, Mary's joy is not anymore private but it became public by consecrating and presenting Jesus to the temple. Simeon and Anne were benefited by the first public appearance of Jesus, they were also full of joy at the consecration of Jesus as we read it in the Gospel.

This day is dedicated to consecrated life. Consecrated men and women are a reminder to all Christians that we all are consecrated to God through our baptism. Those who decided to make the public vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are an example of faithful Christians who want to live more radically their vocation as disciples of Christ. They are light for the Church that shares the joy of their consecration and daily encounter with God.

Pope Francis said in his homily of the last year for this occasion: "to follow Jesus is not a decision taken once and for all, it is a daily choice…Otherwise, Jesus becomes only a nice memory of the past." Then, let us renew our daily choice to follow Christ and become light of joy for the world.