Women of Faith:
Yesterday was the Feast of the Presentation – an ancient
Jewish custom whereby boys (approximately 40 days after birth) were presented at
the temple in sacrifice to God. The custom at that time would have been similar
to ours of baptizing children at 8 days old (similar to circumcision dating): presenting and sealing our
children forever as a Child of God.
"When the
days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary
and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is
written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb
shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two
young pigeons, in
accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.” Lk 2:
22-24
The custom recognized that even at 40 days old we were born
with a purpose for God. That God’s mission for us isn’t to fulfill our own
desires, but His.
“Since the
children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through
death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their
life. Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he
might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of
the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able
to help those who are being tested.” Heb 2: 14-18
Here the writer gives us an insight into what our mission
(our purpose) is when he says, “Jesus shares with those who BECOME SLAVES and then
gives power to overcome the devil and death.”
Our call to God—to become holy—is fulfilled by Jesus’
death and resurrection, which grants us the forgiveness and mercy we need
because of our human weaknesses.
But our “passage” to receiving “a share” is to humbly
live in sacrifice and slavery to others: by loving my enemies and serving those
less fortunate. By being willing to care for those who have less, by being
patient with those who understand less, and by loving as Christ loved (granting
forgiveness and mercy, not judgment) upon all those whom he puts in my
life—most especially to those closest to us (our spouses and our families).
I am not here to judge, and I am not here to say, “Why do
you ask this of me?” or “What will I get out of this if I do it?” My mission
here on earth is to accept the challenges and to give Him control of my life,
so that as I move forward in trust, I will remember in hope that His promise to
me will be fulfilled not today, not tomorrow, but “on the last day.”
Jesus did not come
to help angels, but to free those who have become slaves to each other. I am
not expecting I will be served by others, but that I should be looking for ways
that others need my service. My understanding is to believe in the hope that
whomever I serve will see a part of Christ in me, some light, so that they too
will seek to be become holy by imitating Jesus’ example of loving neighbor as themselves.
That doesn’t mean that I can’t accept or shouldn’t ask
for help from others, it just means that I shouldn’t EXPECT someone to do and
bear what God has given me as my responsibility and burdens.
To bring others to holiness is the call of a vocation.
The vocation of the Priest and the religious is to serve the Church,
sacrificing their desire for human intimacy to serve the needs of the Church
community—to be one with Christ, to spread the good news of Christ, to be
fishers of men, and to feed our Spirit with the food of Christ’s body in the
Eucharist.
The vocation of Marriage is a call for a man and woman to
serve each other AND to spread Christ’s Church by the one flesh unity which
creates an ongoing, continuing presence in the creation of new life and new
families. Our sacrifice as spouses gives up our own wants and desires for each
other and for our new family so that as a domestic Church, as a family unit, we
may all be brought to holiness. Marriage is not about me, marriage is about the
other. It is about making a small unit into a community of believers who will
work to fulfill God’s promise and in turn to become a Godly part of a bigger
community.
And the vocation of singleness—is again to serve others
and again a sacrifice of human intimacy by dedicating their life of holiness
and to doing those jobs that take time and dedication not available to those
with families.
Heavenly Father: “Show forth your work to your servants; let your glory shine on their
children. Let the favor of the Lord be upon us; give success to the work of our
hands, give success to the work of our hands.” (Ps 90: 13-17) ”Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works
and give glory to You.” (Mt 5: 16) Amen.
Present yourself to God, accept your responsibilities and
your sufferings, put your needs behind the needs of those around you, and be
ready this week to be HIS servant—someone needs you,
Blessings,
Charlotte
