candelaria: a reflection from the prophet malachi

I have said so many things already through the years, having been assigned here twice, regarding the feast of Our Lady of Candles and the proper liturgical feast which is the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. I have commented on the long expected child, on Mary and Joseph, on Simeon and Anna, and even on those poor pair of turtle doves. But the word of God, though ancient, is ever new, always relevant, always significant, always possessing a message that continually hounds us and draws us to the deeper realities of our life and call. Last year I reflected on our second reading, a reading from the letter to the Hebrews. Today for our reflection, let us focus ourselves on the first reading from the prophet Malachi.


I admit this is not a good topic for a fiesta when in the midst of eating rich food and drinking to our hearts content amidst the festive air of a fiesta, we talk about the message of the prophet Malachi, a message not of immediate joy and gladness, a message not of instant gladness but one that will require an interval of purification and refining. Today our reveries of a glorious and festive day is disturbed and distracted by the harsh reality of the in-between time, the time of refining, the time of purifying.
The message of Malachi would have been clearer if as in the old times February 2 remained the last day of Christmas. I would imagine how the full impact of his message would have been felt as we begin removing our Christmas trees with its happy blinking lights and silence those songs of good cheer that made that season a season of joy and goodwill. However, just as the child was being celebrated for having fulfilled Simeon’s dreams and Anna’s expectations it was punctuated by something quiet eerie. Simeon foresaw the destiny of the child of his dreams and he saw that he will be the cause of the fall and the rise of many in Israel, for the child he held in his arms was a sign of contradiction. And his sinless mother was not even exempt, for she too will be pierced with a sword. Before the full and triumphal impact of God’s coming could be felt we have to go through a time of purification and refining. Gold and silver will have to go through fire so that its impurities will be washed out.
And so must we.
If the Mother of Jesus was not exempt from the pain of this in-between times why should we expect better treatment? Didn’t scriptures say, he whom he loves, he chastises? Or didn’t St. Teresa say after having suffered for doing good exclaimed no wonder Lord, you have so few friends. As I often say to those who complain about the difficulties of serving God, what do you expect, you are serving someone who suffered and died on the cross.
A woman complained about her ailing mother who needed her constant attention. But look how that situation made her compassionate and patient. Most often we think that our sick parents or sick child need us. I would think that most probably we need them more than they need us. Through them we learn the basics of our humanity, we learn the fundamentals of Christianity, generosity, care, tenderness, love and because of them we learn the way to heaven. We become more human and therefore more Christian. This is one purification – the sword that pierces the proud heart.
Another complained of people blocking his way from doing good, of people looking down at him for doing what is honest and true. But look how, because of this contradiction, how one is trained to love with the will rather than one that is simply based on emotions and feelings. And see how one is tutored to act on what he or she believes is the right thing to do rather than simply act on impulse or on the need for expediency.
Love can only be measured by how much it is willing to suffer.
Today we hear many retrenching, of companies closing shop. We hear of hard times ahead, of OFWs coming home, of the economy turning from bad to worse. But look at how this is training us to live simply, and how this challenges us to act more generously.
This is what Mary’s pierced heart is teaching us. This is what the prophet Malachi is announcing – the time of purification and the time of refining before the final impact of God’s coming could be truly felt.
Today we launch the long dreamt of Cofradia de la Nuestra Sra. De la Candelaria, the keepers and custodians of the shrine of our Lady of Candles, the promoter of authentic devotion to Mary under this title. This is the first Marian Organization in our archdiocese, in fact the first ever organization inspired by the Third Diocesan Synod of Jaro that aims to promote more enthusiastically active participation and empowerment of the lay people in the mission of the parish.
May our Lady of Candles inspire us to work with love and dedication in whatever work we have begun knowing that whatever difficulties and trials that may pierce our hearts and disturb our spirits we can transform these to make us even more loving, more caring, more human, more Christian.