What does our faith call us to do? Back before the Second Vatican Council, many Catholics approached their faith from the perspective of the obligations and demands it puts on them. We may look at the bare minimum we must do in order to live out our faith. As a priest, it edifies me to see those in our parish who are called to specific devotions and practices to live out their faith, such as those who pray weekly in the presence of the blessed sacrament, or those who faithfully come to the daily mass to be fed by the Eucharist and by God's word.
In today’s Gospel, a widow named Anna never left the Temple. She worshipped God through fasting and prayer, both day and night. This was Anna's calling; she would have been able to persevere with such deep devotion without her faith or without a calling from God. Many in Ancient Israel did not recognize Jesus as the Son of God even in the midst of his miracles and his public ministry. However, Anna and Simeon instantly recognized Jesus as the child who would bring redemption to Israel. We're told that Anna was a prophetess. Her simple act of love and prophecy still speaks to us so strongly today.
Where is God calling us to live out our faith? Where are we called to go beyond the bare minimum? Just as Anna saw Jesus' true identity in the little baby who was brought to the Temple by his family in accordance to Jewish law, where do we see Jesus in our world today? These are good questions that we can ask ourselves today.
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