February 2. The Presentation of the Lord.  “Lord now let your servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared.” Already as a young woman Patricia had had a special gift of tenderness, patience and mercy with older people, even if at times she recognized they could be tiresome. But she told herself, “Patience is a virtue. Sometimes older people have it, sometimes not.  Simeon and Anna, two older people had been waiting for many years themselves for the long-awaited Messiah, as foretold by the prophets. They were blessed by the Holy Spirit to recognize Jesus, with Joseph and Mary when they came to the temple for her purification as was required by the law on the birth of a son. They foresaw what the Messiah would bring about and were pleased to be the ones to be present at his presentation in the temple. Becoming an eco-friendly family:   Have a discussion about the importance and need for patience in long-term projects for sustainable ecological change.   

 “Lord now let your servant depart in peace for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared. Behold this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel.  Mary, a sword will pierce through your own soul also that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed.”  Luke 1:22-40     Pope Francis:  God’s patience shown in his mercy towards sinners is a sign of his real power. Patience takes root when I recognize that other people also have a right to live in this world, just as they are.  It doesn’t matter if they annoy me by the way they act or think or are not everything I want them to be.  AL 91-92.