Wait for it…
Have you ever waited for something? Not a small thing, like a takeout order or a meeting at work. Think about when you have waited for something significant - a wedding, birth of a child or grandchild, results of medical tests or treatments - you know this kind of waiting.
Waiting is hard. Painful. Exciting. The longer the wait and the more momentous the thing for which we long, the more ill at ease we may feel between now and what lies ahead. At times, we “can’t wait” for the future life event - the job interview that may lead to more fulfilling employment, the arrival of a family member or reunion with longtime friends later this year. At other times, however, we prepare ourselves for the possible outcome - the diagnosis may be frightening, results of treatment uncertain. Whatever the situation, we can struggle through the unknown and find our spirit waning, doubtful, or weary. Or we can wait in faith and hope, seeking God, being attentive to the Holy Spirit’s presence in the time between now and what is to come.
On February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, we hear the stories of two people who had waited for years to see the long-awaited Messiah. Simeon and Anna had waited in hope, without fail. They may have expected a strong leader who was ready to liberate their people from Roman domination. Or a young man, ready to take on the world. They may have been astounded when the Messiah came as a child. We do not know their reaction other than the words they spoke; the Gospel only reports their exclamation of wonder and faith.
After waiting so long, what we have anticipated finally happens: the reunion took place exactly as you had imagined or totally differently; the diagnosis was better than you had dreamt, or not. In the waiting and in the long-awaited resolution, grace may appear. Let’s restate that. Grace will appear, if only after years of reflection or living into the new life that emerged when the waiting was over. Truly, God’s grace is with us always and everywhere. We must simply become attentive to God’s loving presence and grow in willingness to live more fully as Christ’s people in grateful response.
While they waited in prayer for the Messiah, Anna and Simeon had learned to perceive God, to know God’s ways, even when those ways were surprising. In Simeon’s words, “my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” Traditionally, the candles used in liturgy are blessed on the Feast of the Presentation. The candles are a reminder that the light of Christ illumines our worship and our lives and is entrusted to us as we steward the grace of God, which, through prayer and participation in Mass and the sacraments, we may more deeply come to perceive and to live each and every moment of our lives.
Be a blessing
I often think of blessings from the viewpoint of the recipient. I recount the blessings I have received, thinking of all the things that I, myself, have enjoyed or had access to. I think of my family, my health, my job, the opportunities I have been given. It’s quite a list!
I forget, however, that I am also a source of blessing. It may be a kind word or a simple deed, or it may be an act of great charity or service; either way, I have it in my power to bestow blessings upon others.
When I make this shift - from recipient to source - I become immediately more aware of the capacity I have for influence in the world. Not only this, but the obligation, too. If our world is in such a need of blessings, and blessings are in my power to give, how can I refuse?
St. Theresa of Avila wrote that “Christ has no body now but yours, no hands, no feet on earth but yours…yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.” I am given opportunities every day to bless others in the same way that I have been blessed.
There are many people who are in the habit of writing down a few blessings they received throughout the course of their day. It’s a worthwhile practice, to be sure. What would your journal look like if you listed the blessings you gave in the course of your day? I don’t know about you, but I know I’ve got more work to do.
— Matt Reichert lives in Richmond, MN with his wife and daughters and works to support the work of clergy and lay ministers through formation, coaching, and consulting.
Sharing hope
“Blessed are you who are poor, for the kingdom of God is yours…Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.” (Lk 6:17, 24) I have to be honest with you. I find passages like the Beatitudes we hear on February 16 very challenging. And this month seems to be filled with such messages. Put out into the deep and rely on God to fill our needs; love our enemies, forgive as we have been forgiven. As God’s people and followers of Jesus, those who are most in need should always be in our hearts, on our minds, with hands ready to serve. We should hold possessions lightly, seeing them as gifts from our good and gracious God. It’s probably easy for most of us to point to the food or clothing collection to which we donated in the past few months at our parish, or the special collection to which we gave at Christmas time.
But our readings this month, and in fact, the whole of the gospel, tell us that we are called to something more, something deeper. Because, as has often been noted by spiritual writers, this is about who we are because it is about whose we are.
Our sisters and brothers who are in need should be in our hearts because they are in God’s heart. We must share, shelter, clothe, and be attentive to the vulnerable among us because they belong to us, as they belong to God. I may have written here before that one of the most striking talks I have encountered was given by Sr. Elinor Ford about thirty years ago. In it she said, “I belong to God and God needs me.” Don’t mistake me, it is not as though God is a needy, distant deity who uses us like pawns in a game. Rather, God needs us to act as Christ’s people in the world because, as St. Teresa of Avila put it so well, “Christ has not body now on earth but yours.”
So here is my challenge to all of us. Throughout this month as we begin or close out our day, let us ask God to show us the people or situations in which the Lord needs us to bear Christ’s presence, healing, or care. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts so that they overflow with love as does God’s heart and make us ready to act out of this great love which cannot be contained. May we experience the abundance of grace in giving that Jesus described: “Give, and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” I have no doubt that this will be so! Because, as we go beyond ourselves for others, we will see the very light of Christ which we hope to share, casting out all darkness and gloom and bringing in its stead comfort, consolation, and peace.