.....FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD.....CHRIST IS OUR LIGHT..........

Last night Mercy Sister Anne Sekul, RSM, a native Religious vocation of Sacred Heart Parish, who has served as Principal of Sacred Heart and St. Robert Parish Schools, and who is an iconographer, gave a wonderful 90 minute presentation in the SacHeart Parish Hall, on iconography and her, "writing" of icons. More about this later in the week in another blog column..........Today is the fortieth day after Christmas Day and is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This liturgical feast commemorates the fidelity of Mary and Joseph in fulfilling the precept of the Mosaic Law to present their infant son Jesus to God in the Temple, as a rite of purification. But even as Joseph and Mary fulfilled their obligation, the Presentation of the infant Jesus, unfolded an affirmation of his Divine Lordship in the prophetic presence and interaction with Anna, the elderly widow constantly praying in the Temple day and night, and Simeon, a faithful believer in God's Promise of the sending a Messiah. Their awaiting anticipation and acknowledgement of the One they discovered in the infant Jesus, denoted the mission of redemption He would bring to pass for all God's People. Catholic Christianity also celebrates the Presentation of the Lord as, "Candlemas Day", when we bless the liturgical candles we will use in the Church throughout the year. We bless candles today that they may represent the Light of Christ in our presence as we pray, worship, and minister, in God's House, the sanctuaries of our church edifices. We believe Jesus Christ to be the Light of the World, the Light of the Nations, who enlightens our lives in the building up of God's Kingdom. This Feast of the Lord we know as, The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, originated in 4th Century Jerusalem, and was known as the, "Feast of the Meeting". At the Presentation Event, the prophetic Anna and Simeon, met the Anointed One of God, the Messiah, they had long awaited and whose Coming God's Chosen People had anticipated with hope filled expectation for many centuries. It has been celebrated in Rome since the mid 5th Century, from whence it has come down to us in the Universal Church around the world today. As Jesus is presented in the temple of our hearts what purification from sin and selfishness do we need to purge from our lives, to acclaim and bear witness to his Messiahship ? Pray, Ponder, Prophetically Proclaim, Jesus the Christ who is presenting Himself to you and me, and inviting us to discover the fulfillment of our Faith in God Who Saves Us..........May the Lord God Bless You And Keep You As Christ Our Light Is Presented To You, Today, Yesterday, Forever, Fr. Troy