"We will never forget them nor the last time we saw them this morning as they prepared for their journey and waved goodbye and 'slipped the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.' " These touching and emotion filled words were uttered by then President Ronald Reagan seventeen years ago in tribute to those who tragically lost their lives on the space shuttle Challenger. We are again faced with a similar tragedy -- yesterday morning -- as the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas with seven on board, including the first Israeli astronaut.

Those on board were Rick Husband, William McCool, Michael Anderson, Kalpana Chawla, David Brown, Laurel Clark, and Ilan Ramon. May they rest in peace in the Light of Christ.

My brothers and sisters -- Life is fragile, mortality a certainty, and our passage to our eternal reward often swift. It is not unusual then, in times such as these, that fear of the unknown -- especially our own death as well as that of others -- weighs heavy in our hearts.

Yet, as Christians, we must rejoice, always. For in the face of adversity and tragedy, we have a great and merciful and Almighty Savior who, as scriptures tell us, WILLS that all may be SAVED.

Yesterday afternoon our President, in his address to the nation, reminded us just how much the Lord cares for us as he quoted from the prophet Isaiah.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:
Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one,
and calls them each by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
not one of them is missing. [Isaiah 40:26]

He finished his short address with these encouraging words, "The same Creator who names the stars also knows the names of the seven souls we mourn today. The crew of the shuttle Columbia did not return safely to Earth; YET WE CAN PRAY that all are safely home"

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord also known as Candlemas. It was called Candlemas because that was the day on which the year's supply of candles for the church were blessed. Christians have been observing Candlemas since the 4th century. By the middle of the 5th century, candles were lit on this day to symbolize that Jesus Christ is THE light of revelation and the hope of all peoples.

In today’s gospel reading we are told through the words of Simeon that Jesus is Lumen ad revelationem gentium: a light for revelation to the Gentiles (cf. Lk 2:32).

This "light" brought great joy to Simeon and Anna. Likewise, we should be filled with delight, for as Catholics we have seen and communed with the God of our salvation. For our salvation is Jesus Himself who proclaimed:

I am the light of the world:
anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark
but will have the light of life [John 8:12].

To belong to Jesus and to commit oneself to following Him is to share in this light and in his life, a life which is the light of men, a light which shines in darkness, a light which darkness cannot overpower [cf. John 1:4]. To belong to Jesus and to commit oneself to following Him is to hear His command…'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.' [Acts 13:47]

Elsewhere in scripture Jesus tells us, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father." [Mat 5:14-16]

The darkness that has been dispelled by the light is the darkness of sin and unbelief, of rebellion and indifference which Jesus has overcome by the power of His death and resurrection. We who are one with Jesus through Baptism have been joined to His mission and it is for us in our time to struggle with and battle against the power of sin and its consequences in our day. By faith we have come to know and believe that Jesus is the light of the world. Until His return in glory, WE must carry His light into a sinful world; a world plagued by unbelief, a world filled with sorrow and suffering.

The Psalmist wrote, "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? [Ps 27:1] If Jesus is our light and our salvation, why should we fear bringing that light to a world filled with darkness?

In the 5^th century, Bishop John the Serene said that a soul brightened by this Light does not stumble on vice; does not limp or leave the path; but bears ALL things. This soul puts up with adversities and finds its strength in God. This soul lowers its pride and endures, possessing patience through humility.

Our commitment, my brothers and sisters, to being Catholic and being disciples of Christ is no less than following in the very footsteps of the Master. We as Catholics are obliged to pick up our cross and follow Jesus in virtue bringing His light to a world in darkness. Bringing his light to a world filled with suffering and sorrow. Bringing the light of faith to those without faith, the light of hope to those without hope, and the light of love to those without love. We have the commands of Christ to guide us and Holy Mother Church to nurture us.

Let us remember all these things as we prepare to receive Our Lord in Holy Communion, and may we make our own these words from a prayer written by Cardinal John Henry Newman: