Photo was taken at Flatanger, Norway

A lovely moment with a close up of a seagull at full stretch in flight

Thought on Sunday – February – 02/02/2014

The following reflection is by Triona Doherty

In many ways it is a lovely, simple scene – the child Jesus and his devout parents, the wise old pair Simeon and Anna, and of course the pair of turtledoves.

Simeon and Anna capture the imagination. What a privilege, to witness the moment the son of God is presented back to God in the Temple. And what wisdom, to recognise the greatness of the moment. ‘My eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see,’ says Simeon, ready at last to die fulfilled. Meanwhile Anna, at 84 years of age, readies herself to spread the word about this child she has encountered.

Today, just 40 days after Christmas, we celebrate the day Jesus was presented in the Temple. Echoing the Gospels, the liturgical year does not permit us to bask in the Christmas afterglow for too long. While Jesus is still a child, there are warnings about the fate that is to befall him. He is destined to be rejected, and Mary is also warned ‘A sword will pierce your own soul too’. A shadow hangs over this joyous occasion.

We might feel, too, that the glow of Christmas fades rather quickly, and we are back to the grindstone in no time. But what really strikes me today is the image of Mary and Joseph ‘stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him’. At various times in the Gospel of Luke we find Mary ‘treasuring’ and ‘pondering’ events. We too have lots to ponder. What is your take on who Jesus is?