By Margaret Hatzis
On this the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, it is easy to draw connections with my own family experiences. As young parents we too came to God to ask blessing upon our child, filled with the wonder and awe of parenthood and trust that our parish community would support us in raising our child in the Catholic faith. However, when reflecting on today’s Gospel, I am drawn to the stories of Simeon and Anna; a devout man and a prophetess. How wonderful that Simeon knew “that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah”. One might think, ‘What a joyous life he must have had holding that truth in his heart and looking forward to each moment of everyday waiting to see the Messiah’. Alternatively, ‘How sad that Simeon spent his life waiting day after day to see the Messiah’.
We have been blessed with one life.
I would hope that through the gift of the Holy Spirit, I recognise God’s glory within the ordinariness of each day and that I have the presence of mind to be like Anna and praise God in those moments and share that joy with anyone who cares to listen!
May God Bless you and your family with abundant joy!
Margaret is reflecting on this Sunday’s Gospel Luke 2:22-40