Gospel Reflection: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord


Reading I

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.

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
-and you yourself a sword will pierce-
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 favor of God was upon him.

Reflection

On today’s feast of the Presentation of the Lord, we honor God’s faithfulness and loving humility while we seek to remember that Christ is our fulfillment and peace.

To save us from our sins and fulfill His promises, our Almighty God descended into utter ordinariness. Jesus and His family followed the law like everyone else: waiting the days of purification, making offerings in the Temple, and Jesus undergoing circumcision. Luke also alludes to the Holy Family’s poverty by mentioning that their offering was of two pigeons. According to the book of Leviticus, couples were supposed to offer a lamb as sacrifice, but turtledoves were permitted if they could not afford one. These details show that God did not just choose to take on the quotidian regulations of man, but also humanity’s poverty and lowliness.

God, the Son, gave up His Heavenly glory—gave up everything, including His very self on the Cross—to give us everything. The story of the Presentation in the Temple demonstrates this truth. Simeon senses that laying eyes upon Christ is all He will ever need in this life. He recognizes that God has kept His promise that “he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.” Simeon declares that now he is not just free to die, but to die in peace and joy at having held “the light for revelation” and “glory for God’s people” in his arms.

The entire Church shares this reaction of Simeon’s. All priests and religious, and many lay people, pray the “Liturgy of the Hours” every day. This ancient prayer practice marks morning, evening, and night with hymns, scripture readings, psalms, and other prayers. During the Night Prayer portion, we recite this canticle of Simeon. Every night, members of our Church worldwide declare that we can “go in peace” because we have seen the salvation of God. The people of God recognize that Our Lord of faithfulness and self-giving love is our fulfillment and salvation.

On this feast, we renew our recognition of God’s gift. Let us remember that, with the opportunities to encounter Christ through the Sacraments, we have everything we need to conclude each day—and our entire lives—in peace. Today, we also celebrate the World Day of Consecrated Life, and I invite you to pray for all priests and religious and join them in repeating Simeon’s words. Let us all thank God for the gift of Himself.

Please be assured of my prayers for you before Our Lord, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.

+ Bishop Schlert



Share:
Print


Mass Livestream
Menu
Home
Search