Most parents look at their newborn child with eyes of absolute wonder. ‘We have made this new life.’ The vulnerability of one so small and helpless causes parents and other adults to cry at the miracle of life.  The dawning realisation floods over the parents, we are responsible for this child. The child is so totally dependent on the adult and yet the helpless child draws from the adult such an outpouring of love that it can be overwhelming.  Few first-time parents are really prepared for the change in their lifestyle with the arrival of a new baby. Even with lack of sleep the parents still look through bleary eyes with love on their child.

Mary and Joseph would have been the same. As parents they would have been keen to do all that the law required. Following the practices prescribed by the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple for the purification rites. There they were greeted by Simeon and Anna both people of great faith and both with a deep relationship with God.

We hear in this story that Anna, so in tune with the Spirit of God within her, sensed immediately, an extraordinary presence in this child. For her, he was like no other child who had been presented by their parents. Her spontaneous praising of God for the gift of this child and encouraging all who were seeking to be healed to be aware of who he would become.

Again, in this season we are gifted with insight into who this child will be for us. He is indeed the Word Made Flesh.

Today, let our mantra be: ‘Open my eyes to the life you promise.’

by Anne Surtees osu