Presentation, present and presence

Today is Candlemas, the feast of light celebrating that moment when Jesus' parents presented him in the temple, as the Law required, where he was recognised by Anna and Simeon. And today is also the 29th World Day for Consecrated Life, which I began to celebrate yesterday, with religious from across the Diocese. And it was during the Mass that the word 'Presentation' struck me; it stayed with me, as I savoured its many layers, ruminating on each one. 

Presentation... presence... present... presente!

Most of the religious in the Cathedral would have been presented by our parents for baptism while we were still babies. That, for each of us, was the original presentation; the original consecration. Years and decades later, we each presented ourselves, freely, joyfully, with fervour and desire, for religious life, making a gift - a present - of ourselves to Love. We have presented ourselves at special milestone moments - entrance, first vows, perpetual profession: and we present ourselves every day, whether wearily or full of energy, in times of joy and fulfilment, and of darkness and aridity; in prayer, first and always foremost, and in mission and service, in our infirmity and our activities, our studies and times of retreat, and in our daily encounters. 

We present ourselves, and all that we are - our gifts and our limitations - to the God who is always present to us, whether felt or not. And we are called, daily, to be a sign and a witness of God's presence among his people: called to make present his infinite, unconditional love; his healing, compassion and care. Like Mary and Joseph, we too present Jesus, the light to enlighten all peoples; like Simeon and Anna, we are called to recognise him, often hidden in the humblest and unlikeliest of disguises. 

We are present in times and lives and places filled with pain and despair, gladness and growth. And we are present to each other, and to the needs, the anguish and the hopes of our world... which we present to Jesus, along with ourselves. Thus we live our daily presentation, and our daily presence; the daily YES to which we have committed - and continue to commit - ourselves, through our vows, and our response to Love's call.

And whether you read this on the 2nd February or not, please pause, and say a prayer for all religious women and men, especially those you know, that we may faithfully live our presentation of ourselves, and of Jesus.

(And my apologies to anyone needing to read this via a translation app, which might not fully recognise the richness and nuances of today's play on words - I hope that nonetheless, you can understand that our lives are about presence)