In the parables of Jesus, we often are told that those who have ears ought to hear and those who have eyes ought to see. If we were to widen that teaching, Jesus is telling us to use our senses to observe the presence of God in our midst, so that we can testify to what we see and hear.
As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family this weekend, we hear the story of Simeon and Anna. Their faithfulness in prayer, patience, waiting and observation teach us what it means to be a presence for Christ in the world and to notice when He comes to us.
If we put priorities on the purposes of our life, we would hopefully place near the top the privilege of worshiping God and giving witness to Him to others. Mary and Joseph were performing the expected rituals for the birth of a new baby boy. They went to the temple to consecrate the child to God, little knowing that they were fulfilling an age-old dream for these two people who spent a lot of time in the temple. Simeon had been given a promise by God that he wouldn’t die until he witnessed the Messiah coming to the people. Anna, a very holy woman, was able to witness to the presence of God through Jesus and give public testimony to the power of the child who had just been born and consecrated.
As we move into the latter part of our Christmas season, it might be important for us to figure out the “so what” of our celebration of Christmas this year. Does the celebration end when we put the ornaments and lights away and move on with our lives? Or does commemorating the birth of the savior of the world have an effect on the way that we live our lives?
Have we seen God’s promises being fulfilled, either for us or for someone else? As a priest, I have regular occurrences in my life when I am privileged to be present as God becomes known to various individuals or groups of people. It sometimes happens through the generosity of another person when someone is in need. I have witnessed the veil of mourning being lifted by a reason to live again. I have witnessed people’s prejudices and hatred fall away when they have a personal encounter with someone who calls into question their original judgments. I have witnessed people’s faith being renewed in their celebration of the sacrament of reconciliation or their participation in the Eucharist after a long time away.
If we are not witnessing these events happening in our own lives, or in those around us, we may need to wake up a bit more. Maybe we need to quit listening to negative and fearful invitations that are given to us to give up hope. Maybe it’s time to get involved in something or someone that takes us out of our comfort zone and allows us to experience life at a deeper level. Maybe we should start praying again, inviting God to draw close and letting His love change how we live and how we hear and see the world.
We are beginning a new calendar year, which has the possibility of being driven by fear, hatred and division. Are we willing to be a part of that kind of world, or would we like to change it so people may witness God’s presence in us? It will not happen by magic, and we don’t have to wait for someone else to decide that our lives can have an effect on the world. Decide that generosity, compassion, forgiveness and honest connection with other people can truly change the way the world is in our lives. If we wish to be more happy, we need to shed our hatred and fear. Why carry that burden and any longer than needed?
May this new year allow us to see and hear the presence of Christ in our world and to prophesy that He is present with us always.
Father Donald Wester is pastor of All Saints Parish in St. Peters.