THE WORD AND THE FEAST
The Presentation of the Lord: 2nd February, 2018
Mal 3:1-4; Heb 2: 14-18; Lk 2: 22-40
Do not bring us to the test we pray everyday, but our life is full of tests. It is in and through these tests the real quality of our life is brought to the fore. Mary at the temple today stands model to this brave spirit of a God-filled person: to face everything with a serenity that God alone gives!
More than the results of the tests, what matters is the manner in which we go through it. They are not mere situations to be overcome but are experiences to learn from. The true result is not whether you succeed or not; but that you come out of it better, refined, polished, purified, and made more whole. St. Joseph after every crisis that he faces comes out more flexible at the hands of God. Another example of serenity!
The marks of these tests should be seen in your capacity to offer yourself into God's hands more and more. The effect of the tests could either make you stronger or break your spirit... the mark of a God-filled person is to come out of it ever more stronger in his or her will to surrender to the Lord. That child presented today at the temple, will grow up to be the best ever example of someone who grew out of every test and remained faithful to his consecration!
This is the reason the Church wishes to remember this day as the world day of consecrated life... not just for the consecrated men and women of the world, but for each and every one of us let us pray that we shall grow evermore capable of living our lives with serenity that comes from an absolute surrender to God!
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