From the Bulletin Message:

Being a priest, I have the privilege to go to bless many houses, whether they are new or old houses. Some people called and asked to bless their house before they moved in. Others called and asked me to come to bless their house not because their house was new, but it was because there were some evil activities, they believed, existed in their house.

I once had a chance to come to bless this house. It was not a new house, but it was sure a big house in a rich neighborhood. As usual for the blessing of a house, I asked the family members to lead the way when it came the part to the sprinkling with Holy Water in the house. When it came to this particular room, the owner told me not to bless that room because for whatever reason it was. He didn’t open the door, and so I didn’t sprinkle the Holy Water in that room.

Today, the Church celebrates the presentation of the Lord in the Temple. Both Joseph and Mary bring the boy Jesus to offer him up to the Lord according to the law of the Lord. This feast of presentation of the Lord originated in the 4^th century in Jerusalem and came to be celebrated in Rome by the middle of the 5^th century under the title the Feast of the Meeting also known as Candlemas Day. In meeting the boy Jesus in the temple, both Simeon, a righteous and devout man, and a prophetess Anna said great things about the boy and his mother Mary. With the boy Jesus in his hands, Simeon said, “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in the sight of all the people: A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” When we truly have the Lord present in our house, in our inner being, we will find peace just as Simeon experienced in the Temple. Have you had peace in your house? Have you had peace in your inner being? How is your faith?