Humility is crucial to the Lenten journey, and it is truly difficult for anyone to be humble. Sometimes we really do know more than the next person. Sometimes we really do know what is correct or more life-giving. But unless it is our job to correct, we do not need to go about fixing everyone and everything. — from Sacred Silence
Presentation of the Lord
At the end of the fourth century, a woman named Etheria made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Her journal, discovered in 1887, gives an unprecedented glimpse of liturgical life there. Among the celebrations she describes is the Epiphany (January 6), the observance of Christ's birth, and the gala procession in honor of his Presentation in the Temple 40 days later—February 15. (Under the Mosaic Law, a woman was ritually "unclean" for 40 days after childbirth, when she was to present herself to the priests and offer sacrifice—her "purification." Contact with anyone who had brushed against mystery—birth or death—excluded a person from Jewish worship.) This feast emphasizes Jesus' first appearance in the Temple more than Mary's purification.
The observance spread throughout the Western Church in the fifth and sixth centuries. Because the Church in the West celebrated Jesus' birth on December 25, the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days after Christmas.
At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas.
Comment:
In Luke's account, Jesus was welcomed in the temple by two elderly people, Simeon and the widow Anna. They embody Israel in their patient expectation; they acknowledge the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah. Early references to the Roman feast dub it the feast of St. Simeon, the old man who burst into a song of joy which the Church still sings at day's end.
Quote:
"Christ himself says, 'I am the light of the world.' And we are the light, we ourselves, if we receive it from him.... But how do we receive it, how do we make it shine? ...[T]he candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure, straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exhausts itself in silent sacrifice" (Paul VI).
Daily Prayer - 2016-02-02
Presence
I pause for a moment, aware that God is here. I think of how everything around me, the air I breathe, my whole body, is tingling with the the presence of God.
Freedom
Lord, you granted me the great gift of freedom. In these times, O Lord, grant that I may be free From any form of racism or intolerance. Remind me, Lord, that we are all equal in your Loving eyes.
Consciousness
My soul longs for your presence, Lord. When I turn my thoughts to you, I find peace and contentment.
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? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. 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? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory? The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory. R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Reading 2 Heb 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 Lk 2:32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 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.
Or LK 2:22-32
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."
Some thoughts on today's scripture
At the Presentation in the Temple, Mary and Joseph made 'the Offering of the Poor' – two pigeons instead of the lamb which was the offering of the better-off. They met Simeon, one of 'the Quiet in the Land' Jews who awaited God's coming to his people in a spirit of prayer and quiet watchfulness, rather than the expectation of a triumphant warlord. In my prayer I join Mary in listening to Simeon's lovely but loaded message.
Modern minds find the notion of 'purification' very strange. To the Israelite mind certain profane and sacred things, including childbirth, possessed mysterious qualities that communicated themselves to anyone who came in contact with them, and set such people in a class apart from the ordinary. In order to return to the everyday world and activity, such people had to be 'purified.' While such an attitude reflects a primitive mentality, the legislation surrounding purification did set the Israelites apart from other nations and gave them a greater sense of their own identity.
As I meditate on the story of the Presentation in the Temple, I let God speak to me especially through the words of Simeon.
. . . . . Conversation
Remembering that I am still in God's presence, I imagine Jesus himself standing or sitting beside me, and say whatever is on my mind, whatever is in my heart, speaking as one friend to another.
Conclusion
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.
Catholic Meditations Meditation: Hebrews 2:14-18
The Presentation of the Lord (Feast)
. . . that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death. (Hebrews 2:14)
A survey was once taken of fifty people over the age of ninety. They were asked, "If you could live your life all over again, what would you do differently?" Their responses boiled down to three answers:
1. Reflect more. 2. Risk more. 3. Do more—especially more things that would touch other people.
What do you suppose had stopped these people from living as full a life as they wanted? One of the likeliest answers would probably be fear: fear of failure. Fear of how other people would react. And fear of death.
That's right, fear of death. That's because the more you are afraid of dying, the more energy you devote to preserving yourself. And that means less energy spent on trying new things. But as the writer of Hebrews tells us, Jesus has taken care of the fear of death (Hebrews 2:15). We proclaim it at every Mass: dying, he destroyed our death. Now risen from the dead, Jesus offers us the hope of eternal life.
Here's the great news: if Jesus has released us from our fear of dying, then surely he can take away our fear of living! When we know that we are safe in his hands, we feel a little more daring and are a little more willing to take risks—because we don't have as much to lose anymore. With Christ in the heavens and his Spirit in our hearts, we know we aren't alone. We know God will take care of us.
On this feast of the Presentation, take Simeon as your model. Here was an old man who had waited his whole life for the Messiah. Then, when he saw Jesus, he took him in his arms—a pretty bold thing to do with Mary and Joseph standing right there—and praised God (Luke 2:28). You can do the same. What is your dream? What has the Lord been putting on your heart? Just step out in faith, and reach for it; don't let fear stand in your way!
"Lord, I surrender my fear to you. Please give me a spirit of courage and boldness. Help me trust that I can do all things through you as you strengthen me."
my2cents: "...suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek" we read in today's 1st Holy Scripture. All this waiting for the Lord, and suddenly He appears...not quite like you were expecting and figuring for years and years of being faithful, in faithfully waiting. "He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi". And indeed, prophets were refined, and prophets announced the time of purification, and from the instant the Lord Jesus was born, the refining and purification began. Because Simeon spent all his life waiting to see the Savior, and there He was, face to face, completely astonished and different than he had at first imagined. For he perhaps imagined a powerful man that would enter with an entourage, someone that was ready to flip things around in Rome and the oppression going on. Then he realizes "we are the oppressors", we oppress ourselves, indeed, then he sees a beautiful and holy family walk in, and you know when you see holiness, it speaks to the heart naturally. They carry a newborn baby boy, and he knows they hold the answer to the whole of the problem of the Jews and all within taking care of the temple, the Levitical priests that are to cherish the tabernacle (what holds the Holy of Holies), and in comes the new tabernacle (Mary) holding the new Holy of Holies, Jesus. From Psalms "Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord! Who is this king of Glory? The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory." And we consume the Host in Holy Mass. What I have consumed then is a Host of Life, a Host of a power of humility, if I were only to realize like Anna and Simeon when they see the Lord of Hosts walk in, in the form of humility, in the form of purity, in the form like no other. Decades they waited until the Lord softened their hearts in their older age. Shall I have to wait that long to be soft for the Lord? My prayers are that it is not. Do not save the best for last, but offer your last now, for the best of Life for Him. The 2nd Reading "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." Jesus is the High Priest, and He is sent to purify above and beyond any possible way a human could because He is the Son of God. "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." You see, the Lord purifies not only sin but death, all holds on our lives, all fears of our lives, He is the High Priest and we have the Law from Him and the royal priesthood now continued through Him and the Holy Catholic Church, priest consecrated. Today is their day, we celebrate consecrations today. This being set apart, this set to holiness way of life and they in turn set holiness to us as lay people. Consecration covers the world with the blood of Jesus the High Priest offering Himself, the unblemished lamb of God. So let's say, by the Mosaic law, the Jewish laws, today Our Lord Jesus is presented to the temple, so He is perhaps 40 days old. And we are about to embark a 40 day journey with Him for Him and to Him this coming Lent. It will be a time of consecration to the Lord...on Easter it will happen. Today the Lord is given to the Church, just like Catholics are baptized as infants. This is a promise of the Mother and Father and God and as the child grows, He offers Himself according to the will. And the poor Mother and Father had only 2 doves to offer and their only son to God. The Lord would transform their gift into the Salvation of the World. God does this with what little we offer and the greatest thing we could offer is so little...and He notices every single bit. There is much that can be said of today's Holy Scriptures, about what was said to the Lord's Mother, our Mother, about the prophecies, but what do the prophecies say to your heart? Will you take them to heart? Will you believe? I texted my anxious wife before giving birth to our 7th child who was born this weekend and I said "take this as prophecy...Have Faith". What our Mother did today was of faith. Because Jesus didn't do anything in today's Gospel, but the prophets, St. Joseph, and Mother Mary. They were all moving in faith and the Spirit of the Lord was upon them and at the center and purpose of their focus...Jesus, wrapped in white swaddling clothes...not saying a word, moving and shaking the world as time would begin counting from this day forward. And so let the prophecies be fulfilled in you today. What has the Lord said to your heart? I Am with you in the silence of your heart...
This day "...this child is destined for the fall and rise of many."
I fall at the feet of Jesus. I fall at death. And many will rise. I want you to rise and if He is willing, I shall rise again with you.
