Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It was customary for a first born male child in a Jewish family to be presented at the temple and be CONSECRATED to God 40 days after birth. As faithful and conscientious parents, 40 days after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary come to present Jesus at the temple. On this day he was CONSECRATED (set apart) for the Lord.

We too have been CONSECRATED and set apart for the Lord on the day of our baptism. We have been set apart so that although we live in the world, we are not of the world. We as CONSECRATED children of God must strive to bring the love and light of Jesus to our world much in need of God’s grace.

Today also is the World Day of CONSECRATED Life. Let us remember in our prayer all of the Religious Sisters, Brothers, and Priests who answered the call to be set apart for God’s mission in a beautiful way by giving of their lives in service completely for the Lord.

The Lord is our STRENGTH and our salvation! There are moments on our journey of faith when we will face trials and tribulations. There are moments on our journey when our own human STRENGTH just will not be enough. It is precisely in those moments, we are called to surrender and allow the STRENGTH of God to carry us. It is not by our power or STRENGTH that we conquer evil; only by the STRENGTH of God are we victorious.