Today’s gospel is a story about loving parents, a baby, religious
observance, a visionary holy man, and a wise woman. Being observant
Jews, Simeon and Anna knew the prophecies. They knew that God’s
promise would one day be fulfilled, and they were looking for the
signs. Both immediately recognized Jesus as the long awaited Messiah.
Simeon was gifted with the Holy Spirit as he spoke of this child as a
light to the Gentiles and the glory for Israel. Anna lived her days
and nights in worship, fasting, and prayer, in a sense, she was in the
right place at the right time and because she was prepared, she was
able to recognize the revelation of God in Jesus in the Temple that
day in Jerusalem.
Jesus is present for us in many ways. Yet, we have to admit that
sometimes are unable to recognize him. We have received the gift of
the Holy Spirit who will show us Jesus within us and in others. We are
temples of the Holy Spirit for the whole Spirit of Christ is in each
of the members of the Church.
We have, within each of us, the grace of God necessary to recognize
Jesus. We only have to extend our arms in love to those around us if
we wish to imitate Simeon and Anna. If this is difficult to do,
remember that Jesus gives us the strength to follow his command that
“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your
being, with all your strength, and all your mind, and your neighbor as
yourself” (Luke 10:27).
Are we able to recognize Jesus in our lives today?
