Today,
Joseph and Mary have just celebrated the presentation rites of their
first-born, Jesus, at the Temple in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph
observe what the law says, because doing what God wants is a sign of
faithfulness and love for God.
Since their Son —and
God's Son— was born, Joseph and Mary have experienced surprise
after surprise: the shepherds, the three wise men, angels... Not only
external extraordinary events, but also interior ones, in the heart
of people who have had some sort of contact with the Child.
Today
Anne turns up. She is an elderly widow, who at a given moment decided
to devote all her life to the Lord, with fasts and prayer. We are not
making a mistake when we say that this woman was one of the “prudent
virgins” of our Lord Jesus Christ's parable (cf. Mt
25:1-13): always faithfully watching over what seems to be God's will
for her. And of course: when the moment comes, the Lord finds Her
ready. The Boy fully rewards her for all the time she has dedicated
to the Lord. Ask her; ask Anna if so much prayer, fast and generosity
was worthwhile!
The
text reads that «she gave praise to God and spoke of the child
to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem» (Lk
2:38). Joy turns into determined apostleship: it is cause and effect.
The Lord is infinitely generous with those who are generous with him.
Jesus, God incarnate,
lives a family life in Nazareth, like in all families: growing,
working, learning, asking, playing... «Holy and daily routine»,
where the souls of men grow stronger almost without realizing of it.
How important the little things of every day are!
