A leap day on the 29th gives us more time to celebrate Black History Month—and to reread Brothers and Sisters to Us, the U.S. Bishops’ Pastoral on Racism. Or to study Cyprian Davis’ deeply enlightening The History of Black Catholics in the United States.

When you hit the “enter” button on a keyboard or keypad, you confirm a transaction or get a path to information you desire. You await the completion of the task, as in today’s gospel reading you are reminded of the waiting for a child whose presentation fulfilled the promise of salvation.

Here’s the good news for those who’ve just had a baby: You get to take home a bundle of love who will be the apple of your eye for years to come. It's like being born again yourself. Wonder will come to live at your house.

Then when the days stipulated by Moses for purification were complete, they took him up to Jerusalem to offer him to God as commanded in God’s Law: “Every male who opens the womb shall be a holy offering to God,” and also to sacrifice the “pair of doves or two young pigeons” prescribed in God’s Law.

After the last Sunday Mass, she would stay in church. She kept herself busy gathering the discarded bulletins, spilled Cheerios, and dropped tissues from the pews. She never talked to anyone, but would smile if they acknowledged her.

When it comes to preparing the way for the Lord’s arrival, nobody’s got my brother-in-law beat—at least when it comes to Christmas decorating. Most men have something they like to show off harmlessly about, and for Dan it’s his Christmas tree.

Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins, and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

Every baby is an inestimable blessing.