We have no evidence that the vocation of Anna, Simeon, the Magi, or the shepherds changed in any way after their encounter with the baby Jesus. What did happen in each of their lives was the same as Anna today; they told the story of their encounter. They, like Anna, must have shared what they experienced with anyone who would listen.
At the end of today’s account from Luke, Joseph, Mary and Jesus “returned to Galilee,
to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him” (Lk 2:39-40). No ticker tape parade, no giving the key to the city, and no gala ball, they just returned to Nazareth.
These examples express a pattern of how God works, how the kingdom of God is, like a mustard seed, like seed that is sown, or like yeast. It starts small, quietly, and simply. God works through the everyday events of our lives, often unseen. We so often look for the mighty, majestic, and grandiose. We often believe we need to do great things, and often do nothing. St Mother Teresa directs us to do, what she learned from the Little Flower, St Therese of Lisieux, little things with great love.
As the Christmas Season continues, but life has already or has begun to shift; families and friends have come and gone or are readying to go, vacation days are coming to an end, let us continue to soak up the time we have that is available to enjoy one another, appreciate the gift we have been given to be with one another, and to make every effort to keep in touch, because our life is fragile and we will not be aware when it will be our time to go home to God.
As the Holy Family begins their return to Nazareth, and we begin to return to our normal course of daily living, may we be open to the quiet and gentle ways of how God is working in our lives. As seeds planted germinate and sprout, as yeast begins to cause the dough to rise, as we commit to support and care for one another, to be aware and reach out to those in need, to be open to expressing our need for help and allowing others to assist us, we can start to see God working in our lives. Let us be willing to recognize the simplicity of divinity operating within the midst of our humanity. God is inviting us to be transformed in this new year, to kindle in us the fire of his love. Let us watch, pray, and cooperate with his will to renew the face earth.
Photo: Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside, CA
Link for today’s Mass readings for Saturday, December 30, 2017:
Spiritual Stepping Stones 