DATE : 2/2/2021, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time (B)
EVENT : Presentation of the Lord (Feast).
COLOUR: White
READINGS : Mal. 3:1-4 Resp. Psalm 24:7.8.9.10; Heb. 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40.
THEME: YOU TOO WERE CONSECRATED
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Second day of February, which the church celebrates the presentation of the Lord Jesus in the temple, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " You Too Were Consecrated". Beloved, today is exactly 40 days since we celebrated Christmas. And in accordance with the Jewish tradition, every first born male child must be circumcised, presented and consecrated to the Lord, according to the law of Moses (Ex. 13:1-12). Thus, as faithful but poor Jewish citizens, the parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, brought him to the temple to do for him, what the law requires. Now, apart from consecrating the child to the Lord, Mary and Joseph had to come for purification and to redeem the redeemer, who will in return redeem us with his precious blood in the future (1Pet. 1:18-19). Beloved, notice that Jesus was faithful to the keeping of the law (Gal. 4:1-7; Matt. 5:17-18). He was humble enough to submit himself to anointed people (Simeon and Anna), to pray and prophesy upon him (Luke 2:29-32; 36-38). He lived faithfully under the care, protection, love and upbringing of his parents. Such that at the fullness of time, after his baptism, God declared him his beloved Son.
Beloved in Christ, grace builds on nature and nurture. Often times, what makes many of us to derail from the true path; to fail to accomplish and fulfil our destiny, and lose the Spirit of God within us is because, we neglected the grace imparted on us at the day of our individual presentation and consecration. Listen to me friends, do you know that during your presentation and Thanksgiving as an infant, just like Simeon and Anna, the priest of God, offered prayers and prophesied upon you. Do you know that the priest declared a bright and glorious future for you. Do you know that the priest prayed for your preservation in health of mind and body. Do you know that the priest prayed that you should grow in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, walking daily according to his statutes. But unfortunately, out of negligence, sinful pride, laziness, stubbornness, prayerlessness, unseriousness, and demonic deception and manipulation, we did not nurture the grace of our consecration to maturity.
Child of God, as we celebrate the feast of presentation today, the Church offers us all another opportunity, especially religious men and women and all consecrated persons, to rededicate, to re-present, to re-consecrate, to re-evaluate and re-think our commitment to him. For as the second reading of today, taken from the letter to the Hebrews says, we share the same flesh and blood with Jesus, and through his consecration, we are made holy and consecrated too. Hence, I pray that through the merits of Christ's vicarious suffering and death, our sin and unfaithfulness will be washed away. So that we would be acceptable before God.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8)
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, make of me an instrument fit for thee. Use me to bring back many lost people to the throne of your grace...
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit......Amen
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