This is the season of Lilies in our garden. They have a rhythm. They remain dormant during most of the year and give their flowers two or three times in a year. They appear in clusters and are therefore create an island of colours in the garden during their short presence.
They are present in the garden all through the year although visibly present only three times in a year!
The quiet presence and visible presence!
It is during the season of quiet presence they prepare for flowering! The months of quiet presence enable them to be visibly present bringing colour to the garden.
The three events that would be recalled about the life of Jesus of Nazareth during this season of Christmas are his birth, his presentation at the temple of Jerusalem on the eight day and His visit to the Jerusalem temple at the time of the festival of passover when he was 12 years old. These three events appearing with some details in the second chapter of the gospel of Luke is a text that is worth reflecting upon.
Although Jesus was a baby, when he was presented at the temple on the eight day, His redeeming mission on earth was prophesied by two senior citizens (Luke 2:21-38).
Simeon referred to the baby Jesus as, "A light of revelation to the gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel" (v32). Anna, a widow and a prophetess at eighty four years, "began giving thanks to God and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (v38).
Two senior citizens foresaw the biography of Jesus even though He was still an infant. They visualised His significance although He was quietly present in the arms of His parents. The narrative of Luke about Jesus was, "And the child continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him" (v40).
Following the visit to the Jerusalem temple at the age of 12 years, Jesus stayed back to listen and interact with the teachers of the law, while His parents returned home. Three days later, His parents found Him in the temple. After Jesus went back with them, Luke's narrative was,"And Jesus Kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with Gd and men" (v42).
The quiet presence of Jesus continued for thirty years from the time He was conceived in Mary's womb.
His visible presence became manifest following His baptism (Luke 3:21-22) and His experience of three temptations during a season of forty days (Luke 4: 1-13). The way Jesus prepared for His visible presence publicly was through a series of steps of readiness! His life since then was short lived, only for three and half years. For a short life on earth, a longer time of readiness journey was required!
Thirty years of readiness journey for three and half years of ministering journey !
It was while seeing the cluster of Lilies in our garden, I felt drawn towards these thoughts about the longer season of Quiet presence, followed by Visible presence.
Even the visible presence is a passing presence, as the cluster of Lilies are also in the fading phase of their life term of presence!
It is refreshing to consider through these three optic: Quiet presence, Visible presence and Passing presence!
During the short life-span, the Lilies were colourful, radiant and self giving!
This is the vocation in life for each of us!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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