For those of a more traditional mindset, 2 February marks the end of Christmas. The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord is such an important Feast that it takes precedence over what would otherwise be the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. It's a special treat to celebrate this great feast on a Sunday.
Candlemas is another traditional term used to describe today's Feast. On this day, it is a traditional practice for the faithful to bring candles to Mass in order to have them blessed. Rather than stored, these blessed candles are to be used to bring light and warmth to our homes.
Christmas is the celebration of Jesus Christ as the Light of the world, that Light who enlightens everyone, the Light who shines in and is not overcome by the darkness, as the Gospel for Christmas, Mass During the Day, tells us (see John 1:5.9). Lighting candles blessed on Candlemas reminds us of this, reassures us about this, makes us joyful because our hope is Jesus Christ.
Mary and Joseph don't merely offer a couple of birds, which was the offering of the poor. Unbeknownst to anyone but Simeon and Anna, they offer the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. They offer the one who will do away with the need for Temple sacrifices. Considering the Lord in the Temple, let's not forget the tabernacle candle that perpetually burns in each Church, indicating the Lord's presence. The Lord is present there under the humble sign of bread, until He returns.
In this child both Anna and Simeon recognized not only their hope, not only the hope of Israel, but as Simeon's prayer, known by its Latin title, the Nunc Dimittis (the first two words), the hope of the world: "a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel" (Luke 2:32). This canticle is prayed each day as part of Night Prayer.
Jesus' Presentation in the Temple is the fourth Joyful Mystery of Our Lady's Rosary. Obedience is the fruit of this mystery.
This hope, as Simeon also intimated to Mary, would be realized through suffering. Such is often the case with true hope. This why hope should not be mistaken for optimism. Let's be honest, suffering makes obedience hard and beckons one to despair.
Quite often, when it comes to obedience, we want our reward. Thinking something like, "I've been good. God owes me." This is particularly true when it comes to matters with which you might struggle. Another thing to bear in mind, however, is that goodness is its own reward. Not to mention, to speak in worldly terms, it is quite often the case that no good deed goes unpunished.
We know that at the beginning of His passion Jesus asked the Father to spare Him this agony if it was in any way possible (see Luke 22:42). It is to this that our reading from the Letter to the Hebrews points. Therefore, as the inspired author states: "Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested" (Hebrews 2:18). Despite His own expressed desire, Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father.
Who or what else might the pleasing sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem, mentioned by Malachi, be other than Jesus, the Lord?
Jesus comes to His Temple as the infant child of a poor Galilean couple. As the introduction to this Feast found in the Roman Missal puts it:
Outwardly [Jesus] was fulfilling the Law,At this point, in addition to (possibly) Mary and Joseph, His believing people are Anna and Simeon. The latter of whom was led to the Temple by the Spirit to see Him, the Christ, the Mashiach, the Messiah before dying. The former, a widow of many years, who spent her days in the Temple precincts praying, waiting, and hoping.
but in reality he was coming to meet his believing people
Seeing and recognizing the Lord is the fruit of obedience for Anna and Simeon. It is also the fruit of our obedience. As we ask in a petition from the Intercessions for Evening Prayer I of today's Feast: "lead all people to to recognize that you still come to them."
May you recognize the Lord as He presents Himself to you, May you see the Light in the darkness.
No comments:
Post a Comment