We Follow Christ Our Light
Introduction
Today we celebrate the Presentation of the Child and Lord Jesus in the Temple. Recently, I was privileged to celebrate in two different Churches that bear that name here in Lagos. However, Eastern Churches call this feast: “the Encounter”. Jesus comes to the Temple to encounter his people in the persons of Simeon and Anna, who stand for the Old Testament or Covenant. They recognize Jesus as the long-expected hope of Israel. He is to lead God’s people into the New Testament or Covenant and from now on all are invited to follow the Lord Jesus. We recognize today Jesus as the light of our life, and with lighted candles in our hands we are following him: we become lights of Christ our Light.
1 Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Thus says the Lord GOD: Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me; And suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in the days of old, as in years gone by.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in! R.
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle. R.
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in! R.
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory. R.
2 Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the Devil, and free those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life. Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
Alleluia: Luke 2:32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and 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 the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted Band you yourself a sword will pierced so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer. And coming forward at that very time, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.
Commentary:
Several thinkers have said in many nuanced ways that the measure of a society lies in the way it treats its children. Given the tragic ways children are mistreated in these days, we have failed as a cultured society. In today’s gospel we have four holy people—Mary, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna—who teach us how to return to respectful and holy ways of treating our children. Mary and Joseph consecrate their child to God, doing everything required by God’s Law and thus orienting their child to the One to whom he truly belongs. Simeon and Anna recognize the divinity in the child, blessing him and letting themselves be blessed by him, and by talking well of the child before others. Thus, consecrated to God and blessed and loved by others, Jesus grows filled with the wisdom and grace of God.
The feast of the Presentation invites us to consecrate our little ones to God, recognize the divine within them, and treat them as God’s own. Going one step further, we can apply the same to ourselves as well—consecrate, or, at this stage, rededicate ourselves to God, recognize the divine within us, and live respectfully as God’s own children.
Blessing
Lead, kindly light!
Let Christ lead us all on the bright path of goodness and love,
that we may reach our destiny and reflect the Lord’s light
on the people around us.
May Almighty God bless us for this task,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. R/ Amen.
Go in peace and take the light of Christ with you to let it shine on all. R/ Thanks be to God.
…The 4th Joyful Mystery—The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple.