This year, the feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus coincides with the World Day of Consecrated Life. We celebrate all those men and women who have consecrated their lives to God through vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. We thank them for their total dedication in the service of others for the sake of God’s kingdom. Let us pray for all consecrated persons and hold them in our daily prayers.
Vocation to consecrated life is a gift from God as a particular way to live life, falling in love with God. If you hear God calling you, let your answer be generous in accepting to be loved by God and to love others. The bible passage in l Peter 4;11 says:
‘Use your unique spiritual gifts, given by God’s grace, to serve one another as good stewards, speaking God’s words and serving with His strength, so that God is glorified in all things through Jesus Christ.’
Ask the holy Spirit to guide you as you take time to pray and reflect on the Word of God so as to discover God’s desire for you. Psalm 95 says:
‘Oh, that today you would hear his voice, harden not your hearts.’ Isaiah 43 proclaims: “I have called you by name, you are mine…you are precious in my eyes…. I love you.”
Let us pray for new vocations, so that more people will hear, listen and answer God’s call in their lives. May they open their heart to His will, open their ears to hear his voice and respond to God’s call. Pope John Paul II says, ‘ask the Blessed Virgin Mary for help, she may help you to say ‘Yes” to the Lord, He calls us to cooperate in the divine plan of salvation.’
Mary and Joseph obeyed the Jewish law by bringing their firstborn, Jesus, to offer him to God in the temple. As soon as they came in, Simeon and Anna, who had been waiting in the temple for the Messiah, saw Jesus and were moved by the Spirit. Simeon took him in his arms and welcomed him as the ‘Messiah of all nations’. Anna began to praise God and speak about the child.
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us wait for the Lord and do like Simeon, welcome him into our hearts, into our daily prayers, into our lives. May Jesus awaken in many, the desire to follow in his footsteps and be touched with His love.
A prayer of Charles de Foucault.
Father I abandon myself into Your hands
do with me what You will.
Whatever You may do, I thank you”.
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only Your will be done in me
and in all Your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into Your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to You with all the love of my heart,
for I love You Lord and so need to give myself
to surrender myself into Your hands,
without reserve and with boundless confidence,
for You are my father. Amen
