Presentation of the Lord Sunday

Our readings for the Presentation of the Lord Sunday are:

1. Malachi 3: 1-4
2. Psalms 24: 7, 8, 9, 10
3. Hebrews 2: 14-18
4. Matthew 2: 22-40

• Refiner's fire
• Purity of heart seems like an unlikely goal to reach.  All of us have choices to make, and we often long for the issues, and the relative importance of those issues affecting our decisions to be clear.
• Do you feel that someone pure of heart has no fear, no selfishness, no vice?
• How do you think that a person pure of heart gets to be that way?
• Do you think that life is harder or easier to someone truly pure of heart?
• What would it take for you to achieve that purity?

• Being sensitive to the meaning
• I once knew a man in his 80s who still had his original baptismal candle.  This candle was carefully preserved, beautifully carved, clearly a work of devotion.  Every year on the anniversary of his baptism, he would carefully take that candle out, light it, and repeat his baptismal vows in prayer and rededicate himself to God's service.
• What are some meaningful commemorations in your life, your family's life, your community's life?
• How do those observances make your life more meaningful?
• How did they get started?
• Are they sacramental at all for you?

• Testing as a way of life
• Every world class athlete, musician, writer, teacher, ... strives to become better at what they do.  Not because what they do is not good enough, but because testing themselves, pushing their limits, going beyond what they thought possible transcends merely what they do, and makes them better at being who they are.
• Do you think that Jesus understands you when you try and fail?
• When was the last time that you disappointed yourself in some way.  Was God disappointed in you to?  If so, was it for the same reasons?
• Does the image of God as coach make any sense for you?
• Do you think that you could ever get cut from the team?

• Is there a prophet in the house?
• How would you define the word "prophet"?  Would you include Martin Luther King Jr., Dorothy Day, Mahatma Gandhi, Bishop Desmond Tutu?
• What do prophets have in common?
• Why do we still need them?
• Who are some prophets in your life?
• What are some small ways that someone can be prophetic in their home and community?
• Do you think that God would like for us all to be at least a little prophetic?

• Preparation for Reconciliation:

1. What have I done today to improve my purity of heart?
2. What am I doing to deepen my dedication to God's service?
3. How am I strengthening my faith?
4. What message has God for me to spread?

Called

St. Ignatius invites us to imagine someone that we truly admire
Who has done a great deal for the world to bring holiness and peace.

Imagine that this wonderful person comes to your town for a visit.

You go to the convention, thinking how lucky you are to be there.

The lecture over, the crowd begins to disperse, and you sit, lost in thought.

Then, still thronged by admirers, this prophet makes their way.

They head down the very aisle that you are seated in.

And stop next to your seat, and look you straight in the eye.

They tell you "I have heard much about you from your friends,

Relatives, and pastor.  And I want to talk with you in a few minutes.

They move on, and you are stunned.  You wonder what they might want.

They come back, this time all alone, and gently sit down beside you.

Looking you straight in the eye, they begin.

"I need someone like you at my side, day in, day out.

All the rest of these folks, they bask for awhile in my presence,

And then they move on, hardly any different for the encounter.

But you, in you I see someone who can make a real difference,

Someone with spirit, and fire, and desire to serve.

I want you to come with me.  Share my ministry with me, work side by side with me.

It won't be easy.  I cannot tell you just where this will take you.

Your friends and family will not understand at first.  But I promise you this,

If you enter this life with me without reservation, you will be happy beyond measure.

Are you willing to take this plunge, can you go where I go, suffer what I suffer,

Minister to those in crying need, and slowly, make this world a better place?"

Ignatius goes on in this exercise to say that this is the very offer that Jesus extends to us

Jesus will never push, or clamor for our attention, He won't try to manipulate us.

But He extends this offer to us, and waits for us to take His hand and see where He goes.

What do you say, today?

Shalom!