4th Week in Ordinary Time (II) : Monday 2nd February 2026

God’s coming is never unannounced. Malachi declares that, before the Day of the Lord, God will send His messenger to prepare the people. This messenger will purify their minds and hearts, and turn them to the Lord. The people of Israel understood that this referred to Elijah, while the early Christians pointed to John the Baptist. It doesn’t matter, for the message is the same.

The One Who is to come became like His brothers and sisters – all of us – so that He could feel with us and for us. He has compassion for us because He understands us and identifies with us. We can never say that we are alone or that no one cares – Jesus certainly does. There were perhaps thousands of people on the Temple Mount that day, and the Holy Family would probably have been unnoticed by most people.

But Simeon was not ‘most people’ – he was one who was awake and alert for signs of the Lord’s presence. And his diligence was rewarded – he embraced the infant Saviour, prophesied over Him, and presented Him to Israel. His life was fulfilled and he desired nothing more.

In this same story, Anna too, another old person, was alert to the movements of God. We all need to be awake and alert, spiritually sensitive to signs of the divine presence. It is all around us, but most of the time we fail to see or experience it.

PRAYER:  Lord, may I always be awake and alert to signs of Your presence.

PRAYER Lord, may I always be awake and alert to signs of Your presence.