02/02/2025

The Presentation of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Presentation of The Lord a day early.

In some parishes, this feast of The Presentation  - 40 days after Christmas Day - marks the end of Christmastide and in the evening the crib is taken down and packed  away. The birth of Jesus was a gift; a gift now given back to God.

Joseph and Mary present their child – give their child Jesus as a present  - to God. That action reminds me of my baptism when my parents christened – in-Christed me - to God.

Ever since the summer of 1954 and my personal Pentecost experience in Scotland, is see that thanks to my baptism I belong to God. This conviction has shaped my life. It has given me a sense of duty to help God. I see myself as the hands of Christ able to bring his love into many hearts in the 21st century.

Thanks to my many years as Catholic Chaplain to Sport, I see our life as a MUGA: a Multi Use Games Area – a small, all-weather sports area that can be used for a variety of sports and activities, often fenced around with steel-mesh to prevent the balls from going astray.

It is up to us to decide how to use our space-time MUGA on earth. What games to play before we run out of time – due to illness accident or plain old age.

Some aim to acquire wealth or fame or power or enjoy pleasure to the max – or all four of these. The wise ones aim to serve – living for others. Living by giving our time, imagination and energies in the service of others makes time fly  - and keeps us young.

Dementia may be avoided – or delayed – if we keep exercising, avoiding stress, using our brains and staying in close contact with others. So, thank God for the Sunday Coffee Klatsche. It seems to be helping – If I remember correctly.

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