Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary 2.2.14
The Jewish Temple was built in honour of Almighty God, and many prayers were said to Him in that place, and sacrifices offered.
It is ironic then that when God Himself entered that Temple (as in today’s Gospel) He was not recognized!
This has been the story all along. The human race was created to know, love and serve God but from a very early point, and ever since, has forgotten that basic purpose and pursued other goals.
Of course, if He had come as Malachi puts it in today’s Epistle, in great splendour and glory –then He would have been recognized; but more in terror than in love.
As with the Christmas story just a few humble people are given the privilege of witnessing the Saviour coming, of the Lord Himself coming to His own temple.
The Lord comes quietly before He comes in a more spectacular way. For one thing to give us more time to prepare for Him; and for another reason that unless we learn to recognize Him in the little things we will never be ready for Him in the big ones.
It seems He is being too subtle for a dull and crude humanity. Why does He not work more obvious miracles, we might wonder. (We can note that even when He did work lots of public miracles they still crucified Him!)
We see in the example of Simeon and Anna a certain way in which God wanted to be welcomed. They were in tune with Him, through lives of humility and prayer. They did not make demands on Him; they were prepared to wait on Him, trusting that He would know what to do.
Those in tune with Him are able to perceive God and His actions.
They are able to recognise Him in His less obvious manifestations and able to understand His saving plans and His use of time.
To us at first it seems God is slow to fulfil His promises; but when we are immersed in Him we do not quibble about how long things take. We see simply that all time belongs to Him, as do all generations and all nations - making a huge collection of things to bring into order, all under His saving will.
The best we can do for ourselves and for advancing His will is to be humble before Him; asking for His favour, rejoicing when we see it: and when we don't see it we rejoice in the hope of its coming.
For Simeon and Anna this was their day, but it would not have been their day unless they had prayed every other day before it. They had prepared for the day with humility and faith.
And that is what we must do likewise; always turning up to the ‘Temple’, whether we see anything happening or not.
And this is how we evangelise the world, so far from knowing its own God when He comes into their midst.
We carry Him in our hearts as Simeon took Him in his arms.
And the light will spread, as it has done already.
The Church has to use the subtle approach, appealing to the patience and humility of any who would seek Christ.
We cannot accommodate the world’s desire to have everything at once – if we would be assured of heaven we cannot demand unlimited licence in this life.
We must be very patient ourselves and teach patience to any who are willing to learn.
So hold onto your candles. Hold firm through it all and one day your day will come.
And another day the entire people of God will be rewarded. When He comes again.
May the Lord keep us faithful till then.
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