mission. The world needs Christians who allow themselves to be moved, who do not tire of walking on life’s streets, to bring the comforting Word of Jesus to everyone. Every baptized person has received the vocation to proclaim — to proclaim something, to proclaim Jesus — the vocation and mission to evangelize: to proclaim Jesus! Parishes and various ecclesial communities are called to foster the commitment of young people, families and the elderly so that everyone can have a Christian experience, living the Church’s life and mission as protagonists. The second attitude with which Saint Luke presents the four protagonists in the narrative is wonder. Mary and Joseph: “marvelled at what was said about him” (v. 33). Wonder is also an explicit reaction of the aged Simeon, who sees with his own eyes in the Child Jesus the redemption of God for his people: that redemption which he had awaited for years. And the same is true of Anna who “gave thanks to God” (v. 38) and went about pointing Jesus out to the people. She was a saintly chatterbox. She talked well, she talked of good, not bad things. She spoke, she announced: a saint who went from one woman to the next, making them see Jesus. These figures of believers were wrapped in wonder because they allowed themselves to be captivated by and involved in the events that occurred right before their eyes. The ability to be amazed at things around us promotes religious experience and makes the encounter with the Lord more fruitful. On the contrary, the inability to marvel makes us indifferent and widens the gap between the journey of faith and daily life. Brothers and sisters, always [be] on the move and open to wonder! May the Virgin Mary help us to contemplate every day in Jesus, God’s gift to us, and to allow ourselves to be engaged by him in the movement of the gift with joyful wonder so that our whole life may become a praise to God in the service to our brothers and sisters. G A Excerpt from the Angelus Address given by His Holiness Pope Francis on February 7, 2020 https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/angelus/2020/documents/papa-francesco_angelus_20200202.html Picture: https://www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/pope-francis-unique Coat of Arms: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en.html Picture from The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord: www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/feast-presentation-lord “Simeon and Anna, the two hidden holy ones of God who prayed always at the Temple, waiting for the promised of ages, and waiting, find. They are rewarded for their devotion, and receive the Child into their arms with joy. Waiting on the Lord is one of the hardest and most humbling tasks ever set to a Christian. We are commanded sometimes, "Be still. Rest, now. Wait. Virgins, have enough oil for your lamps (see Mt 25:1-13). Stewards, be watchful of your Master's property faithfully, for you do not know when He shall return (Lk 12:35-48). Be patient, and persevere, waiting on the coming of the Lord." Excerpt from Light Presented to Light: The Presentation of the Lord www.thedivinemercy.org/articles/light-presented-light-presentation-lord
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