4th Sunday in ordinary time cycle I Presentation of our Lord 02-02-14

4th Sunday in Ordinary time. Year I 02-02-2014 Presentation of our Lord. Theme: Brightness of the Light 1st Reading Malachi 3:1-4 Salvation appears suddenly. 2nd Reading Hebrews 2:14-18: Jesus shares human nature fully. Gospel Luke: 2:22-40 Jesus is presented in the temple. The feast of Presentation of our Lord falls on a Sunday this year. We bless candles to express our faith in the Light of Christ. We remember as children when during any calamities these candles were lit to ward off evil. The faith of simple people is sometimes very special. Jesus we know became obedient to all the requirements of the law. He was born as a human being. He never claimed any privilege. He lived like ordinary human beings live. His incarnation was a mystery which he would unfold during his life. His life on earth went through all the requirements of any ordinary human being. He learned the trade of his foster father. He learned all the requirements of the growing Jewish boy. We know visit of our parents to the church makes the children love the church and the activities there. Jesus being a child was taken by his parents to be offered in the temple. The people there were waiting for the messiah and only two recognised him. Simeon the prophet and Anna a praying widow. Both were overjoyed on seeing Jesus. Simeon held Jesus in his arms, and prophesied that Jesus would be the cause of rise and fall of many. Mary held his prophesy in her heart. The feast of the Presentation is a very ancient feast. It was celebrated by the Eastern Church as early as the 4th century. It got to be celebrated by Roman church only by the end of 7th century. This is a feast of Light. Simeon announced Jesus to be the light of the Nations. He prophesied that he would be bringing newness of life to many people in the world. Jesus would be the revelation to all. This year will be a special time for all of us. The candles which are blessed are for us an instrument of light. Light for us has a significance, to show the objects around us by the brightness of light. The Light of Jesus Christ dispels all the ignorance of our faith. Our founder saint Arnold Janssen, loved this prayer: “May the darkness of sin and night of unbelief vanish before the light of the word and spirit of Grace.” “May the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all the nations.” We who are in the dark due to sin are given this light to be enlightened. God has given us the gift of faith. Every Eucharist is an opportunity for us to deepen our faith. And as we have held the candle in our hand let us hold the light of Christ in our hearts. Let this Eucharist give us the joy of deepening the faith. In union with the divine word, Fr. Juze Vas svd