Festa dell’Ipapante, or “Feast of the Meeting”, as the spiritual tradition of the Christian East calls this festival, highlighting the encounter that takes place between God and his people. We could also say: between the promise of God, which is fulfilled, and the expectation of humanity, which is fulfilled. “Who will bear the day of his coming?” Asked the prophet Malachi. Now, in what happens in the temple, the question seems to change: who will recognize it? In fact, God does not come in terrible and threatening signs, but in the smallness and weakness of a child who lets himself be carried by his parents, who allows himself to be delivered into the arms of those who have been able to wait: Simeon and Anna. Her coming is not so impending that it cannot be endured, but so discreet that not everyone has eyes to recognize it. Only those who have known how to keep a great and faithful expectation will not be surprised by a God who fulfills his promises in a way so different from our expectations. He comes, announces the letter to the Hebrews, as the one who made himself like his brothers in everything. It is this sharing of hers that becomes the great light that reveals the splendor of God’s love and gives our life to peace and the joy of salvation.

Commentary by Comunità di Dumenza

Translation by f. Mark Hargreaves, Prinknash Abbey