just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.’
The Promise!
The first reading last Sunday was in part Deuteronomy 18:18-20 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kindred and will put my words into the mouth of the prophet; the prophet shall tell them all that I command. Anyone who will not listen to my words which the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will hold accountable for it. But if a prophet presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded, or speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.
In today’s reading, Simeon was talking about the Messiah and not just another prophet. Likewise, Anna, the prophetess, she came by just at that moment and began to praise God; and she spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem. Chance, you say! One of my old friends and I both agreed that there are no coincidences with God. So, what does the Presentation mean to me?
I don’t need to be reminded that Jesus is the Messiah. What is needed that I be reminded that the Life of Jesus and my life are a journey. I have received every Sacrament except Holy Orders. Joseph and Mary were on a journey as well. The Presentation was an amazing send off! Nonetheless, the next 30 years would not be spectacular. Most of Jesus life was service and mundane tasks.
I was Baptized as a baby. I matured and moved on to my First Confession, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation and Marriage. Just like Jesus I did many mundane things like work, taking out the garbage, walking the dog, and cleaning the litter box. At Baptism I was just like Adam in the Garden with the exception of Original Sin. I was a perfect creation and worthy of communion with God. God had a plan for me to serve Him as Jesus would serve Him.
The mundane things of the world that Jesus performed at Nazareth were just as holy and perfect as the Presentation in the Temple. Here, He was a King and for the next 30 years of His life, He went back to do the mundane.
What this tells me that the mundane things of this world are Holy. If Jesus our King, could do them with humility and grace so can I. Furthermore, when we do them, we can do them in a holy way and with grace. Think about what you do today as holy because you are doing them as Jesus would do them and even though they are mindless, they still can be a blessing and give glory to God.
So, when you take out the trash today, remember Jesus did it as well. Whatever I do, I hope to do it like Jesus with grace and holiness.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for children everywhere who are suffering. Pray for peace!
