As I was reading the words for this Sunday’s Mass, I grew increasingly frustrated. If you go back, the Old Testament is full of promises of a coming Messiah. God even goes so far as to tell the people where he will be born and to whom he will be born. And yet, after all of that, when Jesus does come, the people are still looking around saying, “Who is the Messiah? Who is the King of Glory?” It seems like God could not have made it more obvious. Come on people, just pay attention; he is right there in front you!

How is it that Simeon and Anna knew immediately that the baby Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, and he had not even done anything yet? They knew because they were constantly watching for him. They did not know the hour he was going to come, but they never let their guard down. Scripture says that Anna never left the temple, but her vocation was just waiting for the Lord to come. God had told all of them that the Messiah was coming, and these two actually paid attention.

How can we recognize the Lord when he is in front of our eyes in a world that is constantly trying to distract us from seeing him? If we read the words in the Scriptures, we will be prepared. If we spend time with Jesus, then we will be able to recognize him. Just as in any relationship, the more time we spend with someone, the more we will recognize them and know what they are going to do. Then, we will not be asking who he is because we will know him immediately, just like Anna and Simeon. Taking the time to stop, look, and listen with him will open our eyes to see him and not leave us guessing. 

Our vocation as mothers takes this to another level because we have been entrusted with forming new, little humans to know Jesus as well. Reading the words of Mary and Joseph taking Jesus to the temple and offering him completely to God, I am reminded that we mothers are called to do the same with our own children. These little people are just in my car here on earth; it is my job to be helping them to recognize their Lord, the one they really belong to. This can be as simple as performing our own act of presentation in the temple. I can bring my children to adoration with me, and after preparing them, I make sure they sit in adoration for a few minutes each week. While there, I pray, “Lord, show my children your face. Fill in the gaps that I lack as a teacher. Help me to do this right.”