Gospel Reflection from Sr. Rosemary Finnegan, O.P.
Readings from: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/020221.cfm
This is a triple decker feast day because we really celebrate 3 occasions today.
The first is the feast of the Presentation. Picture Mary and Joseph bundling up baby Jesus 40 days after his birth and traveling those rugged roads to the Temple in Jerusalem. There they went, like every Jewish couple after birth, to fulfill the prescription of the Law of presenting their precious son to the Lord. It was in that sacred space that they heard the older gentleman Simeon declare aloud that their baby boy, of all the babies he had seen for years in the Temple, was the promised light for revelation to not only the Jews, but the gentiles as well. Forever after that, Christ would be known as the Light of the World.
From there on, the symbol of this title would be a candle, which brings us to our second theme and celebration today, ‘Candlemas’. It has become a tradition for the church to bless candles this day that are used for services and devotions in churches and homes to further highlight the radiance of God’s Son to every person in the world. Candles at Mass, candles for baptism, candles at the Easter Vigil, the candle in the Chapel of Reservation and candles we use at home for special family occasions all proclaim as they burn steadily that Christ is present as the light of truth.
That light needs to be illuminated and shared, and it is each of our responsibilities to shine that light of Christ wherever we go. That brings us to our third celebration today: “World Day for Consecrated Life”, a day instituted in 1997 by Pope St. John Paul II in which the church yearly remembers, celebrates and prays for women and men in consecrated religious life who have been an essential part of the fabric of church life. Personally, even though I’m part of this group, this day for Consecrated Life gives me an opportunity to thank God for my vocation and the faithful witness of those in this life who have mentored and formed me. They were, and still are, lights in my life who have shown me and so many the living example of Christ’s love, especially during these difficult times. Most especially, I remember and ask you to pray for those elderly Sisters, Brothers, and Priests who have become sick and died from this COVID. Despite our intense efforts to keep our fragile Sisters safe, my Adrian Dominican Congregation alone has suffered the loss of 9 wonderful women in the past 2 weeks to this virus. All their lives they have pointed us to the reality of Christ as our ultimate goal. I believe they are now interceding for us once again, and that the light of their souls is now joined with the Light of Christ himself.
May all our lives flicker with the flame of Christ the Light this day.
