By Kulandai Albert csc –
Readings: 1 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 2: 36-40
Today’s Gospel reading speaks about the witness of Anna and the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The first reading narrates the new commandment. The common point of both the readings are, follow the commandment and witness. Anna was faithful and sincere in her belief and worshipped in the temple with fasting and prayer night and day. When the time came, she saw the saviour and gave praise to God.
It is evident that if we are faithful in our daily responsibilities and to ourselves, we too will experience inner satisfaction and peace, like Anna who saw the saviour. So, the witness of our inner satisfaction and peace is dependent on our faithfulness to our daily responsibilities and self. A question may arise in our hearts, ‘how to be faithful?’
The answer is in the first reading. It says, the world and its desires will pass, but those who do the will of God will live forever. It means that those who listen to the heart and are faithful to the responsibilities will live and have inner peace. If we are at peace and satisfied, we will live happily. Hence our inner satisfaction is dependent on our faithfulness to ourselves. Therefore, let us ask the Lord to give his grace and strength to be faithful to oneself and daily responsibilities.