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FEBRUARY 15
MEETING HIM IN THE NOW
“Simeon took him (Jesus) in his arms and praised God, saying, ‘Now you
are dismissing your servant, Master, in peace, according to your word; for
my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence
of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your
people Israel.’” (Lk 2: 28-32)
This particular moment in Salvation History, this particular “Now,” is
a celebration of Simoen “seeing” Christ, with his own two eyes. It is a
celebration of the gift of His physical presence among us, and all its gracefilled
consequences: “Now,” because of the Great Fact of His incarnation,
we can embrace Him and behold Him, not only “spiritually” but also
physically, in wholesome communion with Him.
Indeed “salvation,” in Christ, is now present and active in my physical
surroundings and within me, because I am given to “see” Christ, if I have
“the eyes to see.” It is “a light” that has been “prepared in the presence of
all peoples,” including us, if we choose to be present to His presence, in us
and among us. In practical terms, in my here and now, this “being present
to His presence” means entering into contact with Him on a daily basis, in
heartfelt prayer and openness to His presence and voice in my life.
Today let me be present to Christ’s presence among us, so that I can “meet”
Him in the ways He comes to me today, be it in the mundane situations
and responsibilities I am confronted with, or more obviously in churchcelebrations
like the one we celebrate today on the Older Calendar, of the
Meeting of the Lord. Let me be open to meeting Him today, wherever I
am, and whatever I happen to be doing.
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