THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD
My dear friends in Christ, on this Sunday we celebrate the Presentation of the Lord. This is the fourth of the Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary and it calls to mind the Mother of God, the Most Pure Virgin bearing in her arms the true Light of The World with Joseph at her side, as they presented the Saviour in the Temple in fulfilment of the Law. We bear in our hands today our lighted candles, as we join the Holy Family, to present the Lord to the world of our time, as our true light, the light that brightens our darkness. Today is also set aside to celebrate Consecrated Life in the Church. Let us pray for all Religious Women and Men that they may continue to answer the call of the Lord with great devotion.
FIRST READING (Malachi 3:1-4)
Malachi is the last of the prophetic writings and has a special insistence on the coming of the ‘Day of the Lord,’ who will accomplish the purification of his people. This will come not only to the ordinary folks on the road but beginning from the centre of worship itself, the Temple. Malachi reminds the people of the special love of God for them, but also reprimands them for their unfaithfulness. He reprimands the priests for dishonouring God by their cheating and offering unworthy sacrifices and warns the people of the imminent judgment of God.
The very name ‘Malachi’ means ‘messenger.’ For this reason, there are different views on who the messenger in this passage referred to. Could it be to Malachi? Is there another messenger? Could it be John the Baptist? The passage however is more concerned about the roles the characters mentioned will play and not the persons. It talks of the messenger sent to prepare the way before the arrival of the Lord. Looking back with the New Testament writings in hand, this fits in well with the role of John the Baptist who declared that he was simply ‘the Voice that cries in the wilderness, prepare a way for the Lord.’ Malachi also says that ‘the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter His Temple.’ This fits in with the presence of Jesus at the Temple in today’s ceremony of the Presentation to the surprise of Simeon and Anna who were delighted to have seen the promise of the Lord fulfilled in their time. The other visits of Jesus to the Temple like at the age of twelve, when he stayed behind and was found after three days discussing with the learned men in theTemple and His entry in the week of his crucifixion, point to the fulfilment of the words of the prophet Malachi.
Malachi describes the day of the coming as irresistible and wondered if anyone will remain standing because he comes like a refiner’s fire and the fullers’ alkali to refine and to purify. These strong imagery fits perfectly with the cleansing of the Temple by Jesus in which he turned the tables over and drove out those who were selling in the Temple saying, ‘My house is a house of prayer.’ By this action, he sought to purify the priesthood of its impurities, brought about by greed for money and material wealth, which has led to the corruption of the sacrifices in the Temple. His death on the Cross will be the final purification that will make the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem pleasing to God.
The prophesy of Malachi, though was meant for its time, was only fulfilled in the coming of Christ. That is what we commemorate in today’s celebration of the `presentation of the Lord who was brought into the Temple as required by the Law to the surprise of the upright and devout Simeon as different from the corrupt establishment.
SECOND READING (Hebrews 2:14-18)
The mystery of the incarnation reveals another side in the relationship of God with His people. When Jesus took flesh through the Blessed Virgin Mary and made his home with us, he shared with us our human nature so that he might lead us to share in his divine nature. This passage is therefore a celebration of the humanity of Jesus which did not in anyway decrease or remove his divinity. He did not just appear human, he took on humanity. This was necessary the writer says for two reasons, (1) for if he was to conquer death for us, he would first have to assume our nature and be subject to death. In vanquishing death, Jesus neutralises the power of the devil and we can then live our lives though still tempted but with the ability to overcome both sin and death in our bodies as Christ has done for us. Jesus helps us in our weakness because he has been through our human condition and understands our plight. (2) “That he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God to make expiation for the sins of his people.”
The presentation in the Temple today therefore celebrates the humanity of Jesus. He to whom all creation belongs and to whom all are presented in the Temple is himself presented in the Temple. The eternal High Priest is presented to the Priest, that the Son of God is presented tot he Servant of God.
GOSPEL (Luke 2:22-40)
There are many lessons from today’s Gospel on the presentation in the Temple. As Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI puts it:
“St Luke explained that Mary and Joseph offer the sacrifice of the poor (cf. 2:24) in order to emphasize that Jesus was born into a family of simple people, lowly but of steadfast faith: a family that belonged to the poor of Israel who form the true People of God. For the first-born male who, according to Mosaic Law, was set apart for God, redemption was prescribed instead, established as an offering of five shekels to be paid to a priest in any place. This was in everlasting memory of the fact that in the time of Herod God saved the firstborn of the Jews (cf. Ex 13:11-16). It is important to note that these two acts — the purification of the mother and the redemption of the son — did not require a visit to the Temple. However, Mary and Joseph wished to fulfil all the prescriptions in Jerusalem, and St Luke shows us how the entire scene converges on the Temple and thus focuses on Jesus who enters it. And it is here, precisely through the prescriptions of the Law, that the principal event is transformed, namely, it becomes the “presentation” of Jesus in the Temple of God, which means the act of offering the Son of the Most High to the Father who sent him (cf. Lk 1:32, 35).”(Benedict XVI)
The passage shows the piety of the parents of Jesus, of Simeon and of Anna. The parents of Jesus came in conformity with the ritual prescriptions of the Law. The same way they had earlier complied with the Law on the enrolment in the census, which took them to the Town of David where Jesus was born. Just the way they observed the civil laws of the land they are also were observant of the Religious Laws concerning purification and the redemption of the firstborn. This redemption is a buy back since everything that opens the womb belongs to the Lord.
Right from this time of presentation which usually took place about forty days after the birth of the child, Simeon prophesied on the future mission of the Child and the sorrows of the Mother. It must have been something of a concern to Mary to hear such, but recalling the message of the Angel before his birth Mary pondered them in her heart. This presentation of the Lord as a baby in the Temple already sees the beginning of the fulfilment of the prophesy of Malachi. Its full fulfilment will follow in the other visits of the Lord to the Temple.
Luke gives a background of the personages in the story. First is Simeon, who like the ancient prophets of Israel spoke gloriously of the child presented. He must have seen something very unusual of the child. Luke insists that he had been prompted by the Holy Spirit to perform this role. The consolation of Israel for which he had hoped probably has to do with the redemption of the people who were under the burden of Roman occupation or simply the messianic fulfilment. Seeing the child, he recognised him as the one he has been waiting for, in fact the reason why he is still alive despite his age. “Now Master, you can let your servant go in peace as you have promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.”
Luke also introduced a prophetess Anna, who belonged to the rank of the formal Temple personnel, Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. Well on in years but faithful to the Temple service. She was serving God, day and night in the Temple with fasting and prayer and she also praised God and spoke of the child to those who looked forward to the redemption of Israel.
‘A Light to enlighten the Gentiles and give glory to your people Israel.’ That was how Simeon and Anna described the Lord at His presentation in the Temple. This ceremony therefore has got everything to do with light. That is the reason why candle—light procession is a part of today’s liturgy. But beyond the candles in our hands today, we must burn brightly for the world to see. A Christian must be OUT-STANDING in virtues not just because others are watching but also because he represents the Lord who sees all that is done in secret and rewards our actions.
Light up the world as you go this week. Be a true ambassador of the faith and of Christ. May you be filled with the light of God’s grace. Amen. May the Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
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