Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Luke 2 :28-32
There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke 2:36-37
Our present bishop once told us that you know you are called to serve in a particular place when you can see Jesus clearly in the everyday things, or rather, things or acts that people usually overlook. I remember these words as if they were spoken today. Back then, I was at a point of decision. I could return to the ministry to the homeless children or remain in Florida as a parish priest. I enjoyed being a priest. I served in the ministry for 7 years. I had many precious and beautiful moments sharing people’s most joyous as well as vulnerable moments. I felt a strong connection with the divine each time the Eucharist was celebrated. I loved preaching, it gave me an opportunity to reflect on the things God was doing in our midst. I enjoyed the hours we spent together in our Bible studies. All these gracious episodes sustained me weekly. However, I could not see God in the day to day things of parish life. Sometimes I dreaded them. Most of the time, my soul was restless. On the other hand, I don’t mind doing the most ordinary and mundane things in the streets everyday; like sitting in the hot sun or cold weather waiting for the children and teens, waiting hours without any interactions with the children and even walking to the place where work. I sense the presence of our Lord in all of these things.
The prophets Simeon and Anna are the main characters of the gospel reading above, albeit, the narrative is essentially about the Presentation of Jesus. Anna was a widow who could have remarried and raised a family like most women in her time. If she had done this, she would have been just as fulfilled her role in society like women in her time. However, she chose a different path. She decided to spend her life in the temple to pray and wait for hope to manifest itself. She placed herself in the ideal place to see this. It does not make her superior or any better than the women who chose a common life. Ana chose what she chose to do because it helped her see God clearly in her life.
Simeon was a prophet whose only claim to fame are resumed in 3 verses in the New Testament. We don’t know anything about him beyond this beautiful hymn. His prophesy was understood and appreciated by only two people, Mary and Joseph. The same could be said of Ana’s prophetic ministry. They spend their whole lives to prophesy to just two people. Maybe others around heard their words but it did not have the desired effect as it did with the Holy Family. The world would not understand this. For it, their lives would be considered wasted. However, it made perfect sense for Simeon and Ana. The ways of God are completely contrary to the mindset of this world.
Some days, nothing happens. We don’t consider these days as wasted. We never consider anything as wasted or lost time when we are in the streets. Every moment can be and is used by God to communicate something to us and sometimes even to the children. Every day is a step towards discovering something special about the gospel of our Lord even on bad days when something tragic or disturbing happens. Honestly, I never felt this way in any place except in the streets while sitting on the ground that should have been cleaned several months ago. In our recent visit to Florida, some kind people told us that we are special people. This could be read in many ways. Maybe they think we are special because we are crazy. Maybe they think we are saintly. They said it with a smile; I hoping the latter is their intent.
Anna and Simeon, however, would have rejected such compliments. Therefore, it is only right for us to do the same. I don’t mean to say that we consider ourselves their equals. We rather think of them as our role models. Whereas we are grateful for people for their high consideration of us but it would be wrong of us to accept their compliments. We walk in the path that these evangelical prophets have opened for us. We share their conviction. Ana and Simeon acted in self-interest. However, they were not selfish. They had a burning desire to see God act in their midst. This came from God. The gospel tells us both prophets were sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. They allowed the Holy Spirit to modify their desires and values. They realize that their earthly desires cannot fulfill them instead they embraced the things of the Spirit and found fulfillment.
Likewise, we are here for self-interest too. We are seeking fulfillment. The voice of the Spirit has told us that it has something to do with the homeless children and teens. Our children and teens also listen to the Spirit. This is why they are in the streets. God chooses the strangest places to manifest Himself. However, there is difference between us and the children. They have a hard time trying to discern the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. I am not implying that we know how to listen to God’s voice clearly. Discerning His voice is not a technique that one can master. The Holy Spirit speaks freely but often times softly. If we are unaware of His desire to communicate to us, we might not know to listen. Our children don’t believe that God wants to speak to them. We have the assurance that the Word of God is always present among the little ones of this world. It was our honor to announce to our children that God desires to speak them and has spoken to them many times. They hear His voice and sometimes they get confused.
An older teen told us that once she attempted to rob a woman immediately after she was released from the juvenile detention center. It was something that she has always done. As she was robbing this poor fear-stricken woman who frantically handed her wallet and cell phone to her, something happened to the teen. Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation in her spirit. She felt a strong repulsion for her criminal actions. She handed back everything to her surprised victim and told her that she changed her mind. The woman was confused and left the scene. We will never know the things that went through the woman’s mind. We asked the teen what happened. What made her feel such repulse for her actions? She said maybe she just matured. However, if maturity can summon virtue in people, then this world will be in a better shape than it finds itself. For us, it seems clear that this young woman heard the voice of the Holy Spirit. She is beginning to change her ways or least she wants to find a better way for her life. She doesn’t realize that she is responding to the voice of God. We believe that it is our privilege to help her in the coming years to discern and follow the Voice of God.
Mother Mary had been hearing God’s voice for years regarding Jesus. There must have been times when she doubted it. The prophets Anna and Simeon did not say anything that she did not know already. They just helped to confirm it. In a way, this is the only thing we can do for these children. We are in a place where we know for sure God speaks to us. Out of this assurance, we can only confirm what God is already speaking to the hearts of our children and teens. I believe that the things we hear from the Holy Spirit also confirm what many of our readers have been hearing from the soft and gentle voice of God.
