Armenian icon of the Presentation
of Jesus in the Temple
Pope Francis: Let us imitate Simeon and Anna, pilgrims of hope
In the catechesis prepared for the General Audience
scheduled for February 26, Pope Francis reflects on the Presentation in the
Temple and invites us to imitate Simeon and Anna as model “pilgrims of faith”.
By Christopher Wells
Despite the cancellation of Wednesday morning’s General
Audience, Pope Francis continues to teach from his hospital room, with the
Vatican releasing the prepared text of the Pope’s catechesis.
Continuing the catechetical cycle on “Jesus Christ, our
hope”, the Holy Father reflects on the mystery of the Presentation of Jesus in
the Temple forty days after His birth. The Presentation demonstrates Mary and
Joseph’s obedience to Jewish Law, and show them not only “integrating” Jesus
into a family, a people, and a covenant, but also caring for His growth as they
themselves grow “in their comprehension of a vocation that far surpasses them”.
Pope Francis then turns his attention to the two other
figures present in the Temple: the elderly Simeon and Anna.
A witness of faith, hope, and love
Simeon, longing for the fulfilment of God’s promises to
Israel, is inspired to take the Child Jesus in his arms and is consoled at
seeing the Saviour of Israel. He expresses his feelings “in a canticle full of
heartfelt gratitude, which in the Church has become the prayer at the end of the
day”: the Nunc dimittis, which begins, “Now, O Lord, you let your
servant go in peace, according to your word…”
Simeon, the Pope said, is “a witness of faith received as a
gift and communicated to others; ... a witness of the hope that does not
disappoint; ... a witness of God’s love, which fills the human heart with joy
and peace”.
Hope rekindled in our hearts
Alongside Simeon, Anna, a widow entirely dedicated to
service and prayer, also sees salvation in the Child Jesus. At the sight of the
Child, the Pope explained, “Anna celebrates the God of Israel, who has redeemed
His people in that very Child, and tells others about Him, generously spreading
the prophetic word”.
Pope Francis continued, “The song of redemption of two
elders thus emits the proclamation of the Jubilee for all the people and for
the world. Hope is rekindled in hearts in the Temple of Jerusalem because
Christ our hope has entered it”.
Pilgrims of hope
Pope Francis concluded his reflection by inviting the
faithful to imitate Simeon and Anna, “these pilgrims of hope”, who are able to
see beyond appearances “who know how to welcome God’s visit with joy and
rekindle hope in the hearts of brothers and sisters”.
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét