After the waiting, what?
I remember the childhood anticipation I felt leading up to Christmas Day. Back then, the excitement was mostly rooted in receiving presents. One problem with such intense anticipation – after the event there was a tendency to feel deflated. It is 360 days until next Christmas!
Continuation of the Gifts
In today’s Gospel reading we hear the prophetess Anna following up the prophecies just delivered by Simeon. Like Simeon, Anna was a pious Jew. She has lived her entire life in devotion to God and the hope of a promised Messiah.
Because of her close friendship with God, Anna is receptive to the messages of the Holy Spirit. When Anna beholds the holy family, she knows her anticipation has been fulfilled. She thanks God and prophesies how Jesus’ ministry will unfold to redeem both Israel and the entire world.
It is understandable that a childish perspective focuses on the singular day of gift-giving that is part of Christmas. A more mature perspective realizes that in the great drama of salvation, Christ’s birth is the culmination of a long-anticipated event but is also a hinge in the history of the world. Everything after the incarnation is different because God entered the world in human form, and He remains with us in the body of His Church.
During His Earthly mission, Jesus continued to shower us with gifts: the gathering of disciples, his teaching and examples, the establishment of the sacraments and especially the Eucharist.
Just prior to Anna’s prophecy, Simeon’s words to Mary remind us that in following God, our lives will not always be easy. During his life, Jesus was opposed by many. Jesus’ presentation in the temple and the ritual sacrifices of turtle doves and pigeons foreshadow His ultimate and perfect sacrifice in response to this opposition.
Using our Gifts
Throughout history, Christians have faced many internal and external obstacles. Even our own hearts are often conflicted in accepting God’s word. The one constant we can count on throughout our life is the continued, unconditional love of Jesus. We have faith in this promise precisely because of His great sacrifice on the cross.
Our use of God’s gifts does not need to be dramatic. Jesus and Mary had no need to attend the temple for purification. They still went in humble observance of the law and expected rituals. After the presentation in the temple, except for a brief reappearance when Jesus is twelve, the Holy Family disappears into their hidden life in Nazareth. We know that Jesus was humbly obedient to His parents and that He continue to grow in wisdom and favor with God.
In our first reading for today, John reminds us that we truly show our love and obedience to God by our love and service to those around us. God has given us many gifts that we can look forward to with anticipation each day – sacred readings, prayer, penance, the Mass, each other. These gifts fortify us for the sometime ordinary and mundane work of growing in righteousness.
