I Met God Today

Saint Valentine and Sister Eileen!? St Valentine's Day 2018 Love changes everything. Live loved. On Valentine’s Day 2015, I was in Tallaght, preparing to make my First Profession as a Dominican Sister the following day.  On Valentine’s Day 2018, I am in Dún Laoghaire, preparing to renew my vows as a Dominican Sister during Evening Prayer tomorrow. This weekend, a group of our sisters shared something of our vocation stories with one another. Reflecting on my vocation in the days since, I realise that I might have said something far simpler. Just this: I fell in love with God. I fell in love with Jesus.  It’s that simple and that complex.  The rest is just detail.  As Pedro Arrupé SJ said: “Fall in love. Stay in love, and it will decide everything.” "Now is the favourable time" (2 Cor. 6:2) "My heart is ready O God, my heart is ready" (Psalm 108)

Presentation of the Lord Mass today began with these great words of prayer (photo).    Today’s Gospel tells of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple and recounts the reactions of an older man and woman, Simeon and Anna, to this baby, Jesus.  I love to pray the Canticle of Simeon each night in Compline but this year is the first time I’ve noticed Luke description of Simeon’s actions: “he took him into his arms and blessed God”  ... imagine this old and devout man holding our Lord in his arms ... the most natural and human a response to a baby.  Just WOW