A Word from Your Pastor - February 2 Feast of the Presentation

Dear Parishioners:

The Feast of the Presentation is a celebration that offers us much to consider.  If we contemplate the scene of Mary and Joseph bringing the Baby Jesus to the Temple, we can discover some wonderful insights into God’s ways of working with human beings. 

In a moment of sheer delight and joy, a mother and father bring the Child entrusted to them to the Temple to present Him to the God Who sent Him.  They do so in order to fulfill the Law and to take the first step of expressing in a public way their acceptance of the responsibility to bring Him up in the traditions of their people.  Eight days after His birth, the Child was given the name Jesus and was circumcised, given the mark of the Covenant of God with His Chosen People.  Now, forty days after His birth, He is taken to the place of worship that unites the People in their witness to their God.

Some others observe what is happening:  Simeon and Anna, who are there for different reasons.  Simeon comes, prompted at the moment by the Holy Spirit.  Anna is there because she is always there.  Anna takes the message to the world, making the Child known to those who are among the Anawim, the poor in spirit who await the consolation promised to Israel.  Simeon speaks a prophetic word to the parents about what will be in the life of their Child, also noting the sorrow that will accompany the Light that is revealed.

If we can see our own lives through the perspective of the Presentation, we can make a new choice to cooperate with the grace that is given to us in our time to continue sharing the Message of Salvation.  Every detail of our lives has something to tell us about God’s ways.  We are given the capacity to respond, just as Mary and Joseph and Simeon and Ann did.  We are invited to present ourselves, our own human nature to God and to allow Him to shine His Light in us, just as He does in the Child Jesus.

As you may have heard, our School Mass with Bishop Campbell had to be cancelled this past week since School was out due to the freezing temperatures.  We will have to re-schedule sometime in the future.  Our School’s Jubilee will continue to be celebrated all the way to the end of the School Year.

Prayer for the Feast of St. Timothy 2014

 
Each Year on the Feast of St. Timothy (and St. Titus), the Children of our School and the whole Community of St. Timothy Church and School are invited to be united in praying for one petition.  In this, the year of St. Timothy School’s Golden Jubilee the petition is: 

That all the members and families of St. Timothy Church may listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd and follow Him, and that we may share the Joy of the Gospel with everyone we meet along the Way

Focolare Word of Life for February 2014

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8)
http://www.focolare.org/en/news/category/parola-di-vita/