Thoughts to Live by: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, World Day for Consecrated Life

Sunday, 2 February, Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, World Day for Consecrated and Religious Life, Pro-Life Sunday:

Liturgy of the Word — Mal. 3:1-4; Ps. 24:7, 8, 9, 10; Heb. 2:14-18; Lk. 2:22-40 or Lk. 2:22-32.

Some Notes on the Presentation of the Lord —

1. The Feast is the most ancient of all the festivals in honor of the Virgin Mary. The feast commemorates the occasion when the Virgin Mary, in obedience to Jewish Law (Lev. 12:1-8; Ex. 13:12-15) went to the Temple in Jerusalem both to be purified 40 days after the birth of Jesus and to present him to God as her firstborn. The law is a tribute to God for his sparing the firstborn Israelite males during the time of the Exodus from Egypt.

2. The feast was formerly known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary and is now known as the Presentation of the Lord. In the Greek church it is called "Hypapante" or "Encounter," in reference to the meeting of Jesus with the aged Simeon and the prophet Anna. The narrative is only found in Lk. 2:22-40. Its earliest reference is from the 4th century when the pilgrim Etheria attended its celebration in Jerusalem. In 542 Emperor Justinian I decreed that its date should be 2 February, 40 days after Christmas. By the middle of the 5th century the custom in Jerusalem of observing the feast with lighted candles had been introduced and the name "Candlemas" developed from this custom. Pope Sergius I (687-701) instituted the feast in Rome and inaugurated a candlelight procession. The Blessing of Candles takes place before the Mass. The candles symbolize Christ as the light of the world, "a light for revelation to the Gentiles," as Simeon said. On the following day, 3 February, the feast of San Blas (St. Blaise) is celebrated, when the blessing of throats with crossed candles.

3. 1st Reading, Mal. 3:1-4 — "Now I am sending my messenger — he will prepare the way before me" (v. 1). Mt.11:10 applies these words to John the Baptist. However, the following verses may be applied to Jesus, in the context of today's Feast. He will come into the temple. He is the messenger of the covenant. His coming is a day of judgment, of refining and purifying the people. He will purify the Levites so that they can offer the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord (vv. 2-4). The verses apply more appropriately to the 2nd coming of Jesus.

4. Resp. Ps. 24:7, 8, 9, 10 — The Lord, the King of Glory. "Lift up your head, O gates; be lifted... that the king of glory may enter" (v. 7). A personification of the gate of towers to mean the council of elders, bowed down, awaiting the return of a great warrior. "Who is this king of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty.... The Lord of hosts, he is the king of glory." (vv. 8-10).

5. 2nd Reading, Heb. 2:14-18 — If Jesus is able to help human beings, it is because he has become one of us (vv. 14-15). He helps the descendants of Abraham, not angels. Therefore, Jesus has to become like his "brothers" in every way and be "a merciful priest before God to expiate sins of people (v. 17). Jesus "was tested through what he suffered" and hence is "able to help those who are being tested" (v. 18). This is the first appearance of the central theme of Hebrews, Jesus the great high priest expiating the sins of the people (Heb. 2:17), as one who experienced the same tests as they. (Heb. 2:18).

6. Gospel, Lk. 2:22-40 — After their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brough the infant Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. According to the Mosaic law (Lev. 12:2-8), the woman who gives birth to a boy is unable for 40 days to touch anything or to enter the temple area by reason of her legal impurity. At the end of this period she is required to offer a year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or a young pigeon as an expiation of sin. The woman who cannot afford a lamb offered instead 2 turtledoves or 2 young pigeons, as Mary does here. Jesus was consecrated to the Lord as the law required. (Ex. 13:2, 12).

7, In the temple at that time was Simeon, a righteous and devout man, filled with the Holy Spirit and awaiting the redemption of Israel. The Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die before he had seen the Messiah. In the temple, Simeon encountered Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus (vv. 25-27). Taking Jesus in his arms, he blessed God, saying, "Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of your peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel" (vv. 28-32). Mary and Joseph were amazed at the words of Simeon. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, "Behold this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (vv. 33-35). Mary herself would suffer from the various reactions regarding Jesus, most especially when she would witness the death of Jesus on the Cross.

8. In the temple, too, was Anna, 84 years old and widowed after seven years of marriage. "She never left the temple, but worshipped night and day with fasting and prayer." Encountering Mary, Joseph and their child, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were waiting the redemption of Israel." (vv. 36-38).

In Luke's account, the two elderly people, Simeon and the widow Anna, embody Israel in their patient expectation. They acknowledge the infant Jesus as the long awaited Messiah. After fulfilling the prescriptions of the law, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus returned to Nazareth. "The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him." (vv. 39-40).

9. The silence of Mary and Joseph throughout the narrative is striking. It is Simeon and Anna who declare the child Jesus as the long expected Messiah, not only of Israel, but of "all people," a universal salvation. This day is a call for us to treasure in our hearts, like Mary, all the gifts we have received from God, to reignite the candle flame of our faith, to share the light of missionary service as missionary disciples of Christ, and be renewed in hope in this year of the Jubilee Pilgrimage of Hope.

10. Prayer — Almighty ever-living God, on this feastday of the Presentation of your Son, we implore you to grant us the grace of purity and holiness, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayers, best wishes, God bless!