Reflection for Sunday – February 2, 2025
Readings: Malachi 3: 1-4; Hebrews 2: 14-18; Luke 2: 22-40
Preacher: Deni Mack
Today we heard the prophet Malachi tell us God said, “I am sending a messenger to prepare the way before me.” God did send us John the Baptist and many prophets before him to prepare the way for Jesus, the savior of the world.
Malachi also asks us, Who can stand when he appears? Will we stand when a messenger from God appears? Will we listen with open hearts and minds? Will we recognize God’s messengers?
One such messenger or prophet seems to be Pope Francis as he pleads with us to care for God’s creation, welcome the stranger, care for refugees and homeless and invites us to share a Jubilee year of Hope. To build our hope and refresh and strengthen our faith a local parish urges us all to note three signs of HOPE each day from January 4 to March 4.
At first, I thought—will I be able to see three signs of hope each day for sixty days?
Where is hope when we’re inundated with horrible news tempting us to despair? We turn to God. We’re praying for Ukrainians, Sudanese, Middle Easterners overwhelmed by wars. We pray, Please God give them hope. We’re praying for Californians who’ve lost everything. Gracious God give them water, hope, shelter, clothes, more water and food and good insurance coverage. We’re praying for firefighters from Canada, Mexico, even from prisons, helpers from all over trying to douse flames. Dear God, give them hope and courage and perseverance and endurance. It is difficult to have hope when we feel inundated with bad news, lies, threats, deportations, arrests, bans and criminals convicted of battering police released to batter police again.
Dear God, we are dependent upon you for strength to bring hope in the midst of fear, to bring trust in the midst of terror, to bring love in the midst of hate. Thank you for FEMA workers, the Red Cross, and all who carry hope, all who are great signs of hope, all who show love. You, dear God keep sending messengers of hope. Help us pay attention to them. Help us listen to the prophets among us.
Recently, Bishop Maryann Budde quoted biblical imperatives to a small but powerful assembly in an Episcopal church in Washington DC. She asked elected officials to lead with God’s mercy. She asked those in power especially to show mercy to those who are afraid. Bishop Budde asked for mercy on the people in our country who work in our hospitals and farms and for those who have fled from war zones and persecution in their own lands. Bishop Budde pleaded for mercy for immigrants who fear they may be separated from their families in mass deportations.
And the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a prophetic message in defense of immigrants, refugees, foreign aid, and the environment. They ask for genuine care for our most vulnerable sisters and brothers including the unborn, the poor, the elderly and infirm.
Today’s gospel introduces us to Anna and to Simeon, a holy man who identified the hope he saw in baby Jesus. Simeon so longed for the One who will bring consolation to his people that he did not want to die before he saw God’s salvation, Christ of the Lord. Mary and Joseph brought their son to the temple to present him to God. Simeon took the child Jesus into his arms and blessed God saying, Now Master you may let your servant go in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation, a light for revelation to the gentiles and glory for your people Israel. He saw more than the consolation of Israel. Simeon saw salvation and said so. The prophet Anna thanked God and saw in baby Jesus the redeemer.
Mary and Joseph were amazed even though, months earlier, they’d been assured by an angel this child will be Son of the Most High. Mary and Joseph could not yet grasp anywhere near the fullness of the angel’s message. As they pondered and observed and loved and cared for this tiny savior, they lived in anticipation of each sign of who he would become. They had to prepare his way. As he grew in age, wisdom and grace so did Mary and Joseph and some of the people around them. Jesus brought hope to a sorely troubled world and continues to bring hope today through you and me, his followers.
God is working through us to be uniquely insightful, merciful, in touch, observant and aware in our lives like the prophets Simeon and Anna who saw the Savior of the World in baby Jesus. May we grow in hope as we grow in age, wisdom and grace. Again we pray, God help us listen to your messengers, your prophets, Pope Francis, Bishop Budde and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Give us hope; give us courage; give us the ability, the strength and the wisdom to ensure vulnerable people have reason to hope.
- Reflection for Sunday – February 2, 2025 - January 30, 2025
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- Reflection for Sunday – August 18, 2024 - August 14, 2024
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