The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Jesus was presented in the temple, fulfilling the Law of Moses. Simeon, a devout man, recognized Jesus as the redeemer.
Gospel according to Luke 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.”
Reflections
In today’s Gospel passage, we see a demonstration of obedience to the Law of Moses. According to the Old Testament tradition, a mother was considered ritually unclean after giving birth to a male child. Thirty-three days after the birth of the child, she was expected to participate in a rite of purification, after which the family was obliged to present their son in the temple to be consecrated to the Lord (Exodus 13:2; Leviticus 12:1-4). This passage makes it clear that Mary and Joseph were observant Jews: “... they brought him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.” (Luke 2:22)
Jesus was presented in the temple and a sacrifice was offered as part of Mary’s rite of purification (Luke 2:24). The family could not afford to offer a sheep, and the alternative was the offering of a pair of turtle doves or pigeons (Leviticus 12:6-8). This humble sacrifice shows the limited means of the family. Despite their poverty, Mary and Joseph remained faithful to the laws that were given to God’s chosen people. Trusting in Divine Provision, they quietly awaited God’s deliverance. But they did not yet realize the way in which their son would bring salvation to humanity (Luke 2:50). This event, while simple, shows a profound convergence of the Old Testament with the New Covenant. The events foretold by the prophets were now fulfilled in Jesus, the Promised Messiah who came in the form of a child to redeem Israel from sin (Isaiah 9:6). It foreshadows Jesus’ public ministry, which will be characterized by mercy, giving liberty to the captives and the oppressed, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, and ultimately ending with self-giving sacrifice (Luke 4:18; John 15:13).
It is tempting to assume that the Pharisees and the religious leaders of the time, who studied the Scriptures and interpreted the signs of its fulfillment, would have immediately recognized Jesus as the Messiah. But, as the Gospels describe, it was usually meek, humble, and faith-filled people who were the most attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was often praised by those who were otherwise cast out of society, whereas the Pharisees started to grumble against him (Luke 15:2). Through this passage, we are invited to reflect on the ways in which our own power and social status can blind us to the true presence and action of God in our lives. How can we distance ourselves from earthly distractions and become more attentive to the words of the Lord? How can we open our ears to the promptings of the Holy Spirit? It may take silence and retreating from the noise of the world to ponder the greatness of the Lord and to become attentive to His voice. Pope Benedict XVI remarked that, looking at things from a spiritual perspective, we seek out silence in nature or in protected places. Monasteries, he said, are sacred spaces. He called them “the backbone of the world” and “... an oasis in which God speaks to humanity; in them one finds the cloister, a symbolic place, because it is an enclosed space, but open to the sky".
Simeon, a devout man, had been waiting for the coming of Christ for all of his life. He was now in his old age, having listened to the promise of the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing the Messiah: “It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah” (Luke 2:26). The Holy Spirit led Simeon to Jesus, and he took the Christ Child in his arms. He expressed his recognition of Jesus as the redeemer through his words to God: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace… for my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30).
In his old age, Simeon received spiritual inspiration that gave him exceptional strength to carry out his mission until it was complete. It is not unusual to see such vitality among the elderly, who find a strong reason and purpose to persevere. A sense of meaning gives them grace to physically endure until a significant milestone is achieved and they feel that their task has been completed. Jesus’ arrival marks the beginning of a new era bringing redemption and deliverance, the dawn of the New Covenant. In the words of Simeon, “[Jesus is] a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel” (Luke 2:32). Through his prophetic words and actions, Simeon bore witness to the universal scope of Jesus' mission, which would bring salvation not only to the people of Israel, but also to all nations. Light is something that we are all attracted to. The light of salvation is a ray of hope that penetrates the obscurity of the darkness.
The hope of Jesus’ redemption is not limited to one group, one race, or one nation. Jesus was revealed to the Gentiles, and His salvation is for all of humanity. He gives His grace to everyone regardless of their background, reflecting God’s loving desire for all people to be saved. As such, Simeon’s prophecy demonstrates the universal nature of the Church – a Universal Church in which we are called to be bearers of this hope. Jesus calls us, His followers, to share His saving grace with those around us and to live our faith with purpose and conviction. We are reminded to be mindful of the opportunities, and the struggles, that we face every day. With confidence in the strength that comes from the Holy Spirit, we can confront the challenges and fulfill the tasks that await. In the words of St. Brother André Bessette, the patron saint of the rejected, “It is with the smallest brushes that the artist paints the most exquisitely beautiful pictures.”