What we will become has not yet been revealed

Today the Universal Church commemorates the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple…For those who pray the Rosary daily, this is an event we are very familiar with….While the Gospel passage at Mass today from St Luke recalls Joseph and Mary going to the temple in obedience to present their son…I would like to reflect instead upon the first reading from Malachi…..In this reading we are told that…….”Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in the days of old, as in years gone by”……..In this reading, Malachi tells us the Lord is coming but interestingly enough, Malachi warns us…..”But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears?”……There is an implication in this statement that not only is no one worthy to stand before the Lord but will anyone have the stamina to endure the trials and tribulations before the Lord comes again - This is a daunting thought!…And after pondering this statement, I can only conclude that without grace, there is no way we will make it!……The Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross payed a heavy price for the sins committed by mankind…..But as far as our individual earthly journey back to God goes - Without God’s grace, its far to easy to “give up”….The decision to persevere must go beyond our feelings…We must grope many times in the dark as if we are blind, trusting beyond what we feel that God is at work, both in our life and in the Church……We should not be focused on outcomes we what to see or do not see…We each have a part to play in God’s plan of salvation - Just do your small part! ………What else does Malachi tell us?….He tells us that God is purifying his Church - “He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD”….Again, many Catholics want to see the outcome of that purification process in the here and now - That is not how it works - God’s timing is not our timing…We must be patient and endure…..Trusting that God is at work, not only in the Church but in us……All good things take time….Place your hand into the hand of God and do not look back…Stop trying to “control” outcomes…God is the only one in control - Allow him to work and simply just do your small part.

“A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel”

When one looks back on their life honestly, more times than not, one will see how their views have changed…….People change in time because of what they have experienced and also by what they have suffered…..God works in each soul this way….Patiently “refining and purifying” them…..This is why we must pray to have a teachable spirit………A heart that allows God to prove us wrong!…..Do we listen to people who disagree with us?......In life there are no coincidences - God is at work! - But while he is at work, we must be open to him….Allowing him to form us…..Why?….Because nothing unclean enters heaven - And God wants us in heaven…..Most people assume we just stroll right into the gates of heaven - That is not how it works - And while we may not know that or for that matter accept that reality - God is at work in each of us because he loves us beyond all telling - As Malachi tells us in the first reading today at Mass - God is “refining and purifying” us…..Sometimes I say to myself - “Why” - I question what God is doing - Or - I assume “I get it” just because I am a practicing Catholic - But do I “get it”?!?………”I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Christ Jesus”……The “refining and purifying” process continues - Trust the process

“Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested”

Today the Universal Church tells us about the Holy Family, how they went to the Temple like everyone else and presented their son in obedience……Just as Joseph and Mary were obedient to God, so must we be obedient and not assume we “get it”…..Mary of all people could have refused to participate in this Jewish Presentation ritual - Why? - Because Mary was the only one who “got it”!…Yet that is not what she did…..The sanctification process for both us individually and the Church is long and twisting endeavor…..We are not the people we were born to be - Yet! - Nor is the Church for that matter!…This is why we must trust the process and allow God to work….We must be open to the Holy Spirit, not to “hold on too tightly” to “our” plans but instead be open to what God “throws at us”…..In all things and through the journey of life God is working……He is “refining and purifying”……In the mean time, we must persevere and trust…..…..What we will become has not yet been revealed……..JMJ