Beloved in Christ,
The presentation of the Lord in the Temple is celebrated forty days after Christmas in the liturgical calendar. It is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. This feast, whose beginning is in the fourth century Jerusalem, is also called Candlemas (Candle mass) to illustrate Simeon's acknowledgment of the fulfillment of the prophecy that Jesus is "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory to your people Israel" (Lk 2:32). Consequently, candles are blessed at mass this Sunday for liturgical and personal use throughout the year.
The presentation recalls the events recorded in this Sunday's Gospel passage from Luke: Mary and Joseph bring their son to the Temple for consecration as the firstborn male child, fulfilling the Law. In the Temple, they came in contact with Simeon and Anna, two distinguished servants of God who revealed the mission of Jesus as the "light of the nation." Jesus is recognized as the light that will draw all to his presence. That is why, on this feast, the priest blesses our candles to be lit for procession and those for use during the liturgical year. We bear the lit candle in procession into the church, symbolic of our acceptance and followership of Christ, the light of the World.
This Sunday is also observed as World Day for Consecrated Life. According to St. John Paul II, the aim is "to help the entire Church esteem ever more greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the practice of evangelical counsels" and " to be a suitable occasion for consecrated persons to renew their commitment and rekindle the fervor with which should inspire the offering of themselves to the Lord."
As we celebrate the feast of the Presentation, let us continue to invite our young men and women to consider a vocation to the priesthood and the consecrated life. It is a beautiful gift from God to the world. In embracing the call to this life, we indicate our priority for total dedication to God and become a sign of the promise of the world to come. I believe God has given us vocation in this parish. God has designated some of your sons and daughters for vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life. Let's do our part in encouraging and supporting this sacred call. Let me remind you that we now have a Vocation Awareness Ministry in our parish that you can contact if you have someone in mind you think God might be calling to consecrate their life to Christ and his Church.
In Christ our Light,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
The presentation of the Lord in the Temple is celebrated forty days after Christmas in the liturgical calendar. It is the fourth Joyful Mystery of the Rosary. This feast, whose beginning is in the fourth century Jerusalem, is also called Candlemas (Candle mass) to illustrate Simeon's acknowledgment of the fulfillment of the prophecy that Jesus is "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for the glory to your people Israel" (Lk 2:32). Consequently, candles are blessed at mass this Sunday for liturgical and personal use throughout the year.
The presentation recalls the events recorded in this Sunday's Gospel passage from Luke: Mary and Joseph bring their son to the Temple for consecration as the firstborn male child, fulfilling the Law. In the Temple, they came in contact with Simeon and Anna, two distinguished servants of God who revealed the mission of Jesus as the "light of the nation." Jesus is recognized as the light that will draw all to his presence. That is why, on this feast, the priest blesses our candles to be lit for procession and those for use during the liturgical year. We bear the lit candle in procession into the church, symbolic of our acceptance and followership of Christ, the light of the World.
This Sunday is also observed as World Day for Consecrated Life. According to St. John Paul II, the aim is "to help the entire Church esteem ever more greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the practice of evangelical counsels" and " to be a suitable occasion for consecrated persons to renew their commitment and rekindle the fervor with which should inspire the offering of themselves to the Lord."
As we celebrate the feast of the Presentation, let us continue to invite our young men and women to consider a vocation to the priesthood and the consecrated life. It is a beautiful gift from God to the world. In embracing the call to this life, we indicate our priority for total dedication to God and become a sign of the promise of the world to come. I believe God has given us vocation in this parish. God has designated some of your sons and daughters for vocation to the priesthood and consecrated life. Let's do our part in encouraging and supporting this sacred call. Let me remind you that we now have a Vocation Awareness Ministry in our parish that you can contact if you have someone in mind you think God might be calling to consecrate their life to Christ and his Church.
In Christ our Light,
Fr. Bernard Alayode, OP
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