To read the texts click on the texts: Mal 3:1-4; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40
Until 1969, the ancient
feast of the presentation of Our Lord, which is of Oriental origin, was known
in the West as the feast of the Purification of Our Lady, and closed the
Christmas season, forty days after the Lord's birth. However, today the focus is more on the Lord
than his mother and hence the feast is named The Presentation of The Lord.
The Gospel text chosen
for the feast of today consists of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the
purification of Mary and the Song of Simeon.
According to Jewish law a
woman became ceremonially unclean on the birth of a child. During this time,
she was not permitted to enter the Temple or touch any holy object. On the
eighth day the child was circumcised, after which the mother was unclean an
additional thirty-three days—sixty-six if the child was female. At the
conclusion of this period, the mother offered a sacrifice, either a lamb or, if
she was poor, two doves or two young pigeons. That Luke does not mention a lamb
but refers to two turtledoves or pigeons may indicate that Jesus was born to
the poor of Israel. In addition, the
first son was to be presented to the Lord as a reminder of the Exodus, and then,
bought back with an offering. Luke does not mention that Jesus was redeemed
either because he was not aware of this requirement or because he wanted to
convey that Jesus was constantly devoted or dedicated to the Lord. In this part
Luke emphasizes that the law of the Lord was fulfilled in all respects at the
birth of Jesus.
Simeon is introduced
immediately after the presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary. He
too like Zechariah and Elizabeth is described as “righteous”. He is also
“devout”. He looked forward to the restoration of the people and the
fulfillment of God’s redemptive work. The Spirit, who had revealed to him that
he would not see death until he saw the anointed one of God, is the same Spirit
who rests on him and gives him utterance to speak.
His hymn of praise of God
is known as the “Nunc Dimittis” (“Now Dismiss”). It is only loosely related to
the occasion of the birth of Jesus. It declares the praise of God for
faithfulness and the redemption of the people. Though some interpret “now you
are dismissing your servant in peace” to mean that Simeon was now prepared to
die, it can also mean that he recognizes that he is being released from his
mission to watch for the coming of the Messiah because he has now seen the
coming of the one who will bring salvation.
His blessing relates the birth of Jesus to the fulfillment of the
promise of salvation and looks ahead to the inclusion of all peoples in the
experience of the blessings of God. Even as the parents of Jesus wonder at what
is being said by Simeon, he blesses them and then addresses Mary, the mother of
Jesus. He speaks about the coming rejection of Jesus. Not everyone will want to
see the light, not everyone will want to receive the salvation by God for all
peoples. Not everyone will recognize God coming in Jesus. Jesus will be
rejected and treated as someone to be opposed. Even his mother will have to
share in his sufferings.
Jesus came not to make us
comfortable but to wake us up from our sleep and this is what Simeon had
prophesied. He came to challenge our way of looking at the world. This
challenge is not easy to accept because it means that many of our preconceived
ideas and notions will have to be given up and we will have to start anew. It
is easier and more comfortable to live the selfish and self-centered lives that
we are used to rather than be concerned about others. It is easier to be caught
up in our own small worlds, rather than get out of our wells and see that life
is much more than simply having more.
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