Reverend Monsignor Giorgio Chezza
Dear Men and Women Religious
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
May the Lord give you peace!
Today the entire Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. I would like to recall the Greek word that introduces us to this feast: “synantēsis – encounter”.
This feast is deeply cherished in the Eastern Catholic Churches, where it holds a special significance. It is a meeting of two generations: the young couple, Joseph and Mary, with the Child, are welcomed by Simeon and Anna, two elderly people who have spent their lives in the Temple of Jerusalem. They are two icons of waiting for the Lord, for the Messiah.
As we contemplate these two figures, Simeon and Anna, I think of the many elderly people in our communities: grandfathers and grandmothers who come to our churches every day. They come to Mass and pray. Today’s culture often leads us to overlook, or even despise, the elderly; they are often seen as a burden to society. There is an Arab proverb that says: “If you do not have an elderly person at home, you should go and find one.”
Today’s celebration is the celebration of the encounter between generations, an embrace between two elderly people and a child, the Child, God Himself.
Simeon is an elderly man who lives in Jerusalem. In his heart, he knows that one day he will see the Messiah. Simeon is for us a powerful example of faith and patience. He waits because he knows that God always keeps His promises. And I would like to ask you a question: do we truly await the Lord? We, as religious and consecrated persons, do we still await the Lord?
Anna is a similar figure. She is an elderly woman who has served in the Temple for many years. She, too, lives in expectation of the Messiah. And she, too, knows that this is the moment she will meet Him. Both Simeon and Anna are examples for us. They remained anchored in hope, knowing that God never forgets His people.
Yes, brothers and sisters, God never forgets… He never abandons us. God never forgets us. He never abandons us. He knows the life story of each one of us. Behold, God never forgets us. We never become useless in His eyes.
Brothers and sisters, it seems that Saint Luke, in this episode, also wants to convey this message: whoever wants to find God, must approach Him with simplicity of heart: Whoever wants to encounter God must be aware that before we seek God, God is already seeking us. When we, too, show simple attitudes of openness, then the Presentation of the Lord becomes a celebration of encounter.
It is precisely in this perspective that we understand why it is on this liturgical feast that our Church recalls the importance of consecrated life. Today the Church celebrates the Day of Consecrated Life: friars, sisters, monks, nuns, and missionaries.
This is why the candle, symbol of light, is so meaningful. Consecrated life is called to be that light that reminds us of the encounter between God and human life. This is possible only through the grace of the Lord, through the action of the Holy Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who inspires vocations in the Church. He awakens in hearts the desire to encounter God, a desire meant for every person.
Today is a day to recognize the beauty of consecrated life in the Church, a beauty that comes precisely from this encounter. When the encounter is authentic and lasting, it naturally becomes a witness. And together, as we celebrate today the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, we want to say: “My eyes have seen your salvation”.
Let us pray, brothers and sisters, that we may have the courage to say “Yes” to the love of God who calls us, and the courage to say “Yes” to the One who never disappoints us, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Light of the world. Amen!