The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord - a celebration of love that gives itself completely, offering to God what is firstborn, cherished, and most beloved - anticipates the ultimate Sacrifice of Love: the feast of Crucified Love. Yet, are you not struck by the fact that the opening verses of today's Gospel from St. Luke strongly and repeatedly emphasize fidelity to the provisions of the law? This is intriguing, as Luke, raised in Greek culture, had limited knowledge of the Old Testament Law. However, his focus was not on the letter of the Law but on its theology and spiritual significance. St. Luke emphasizes that Mary and Joseph were faithful to the Lord's Law, fulfilling their obligations after the birth of their firstborn son with care and out of love for God. These obligations included two ancient laws: one for the mother and the other for the newborn child.
The first law is outlined in Leviticus. After giving birth to a boy, a woman is considered unclean for seven days, meaning she is excluded from liturgical activities. On the eighth day, the child is circumcised, and then the woman remains at home for thirty-three days to cleanse from the blood. After forty days, she offers a double sacrifice: a lamb for a burnt offering and a young pigeon or turtledove for sin. However, if a woman is poor, she may offer two turtledoves or two young pigeons instead. St. Luke clarifies that Mary and Joseph made the sacrifice of a poor person, indicating that Jesus was born into a family of simple, humble means. He came to us from a family of modest means.
Second law. For the firstborn son, who was considered God's property under the Mosaic Law, a gift of five shekels must be paid to the priest at any location. This served as an eternal reminder of how God saved the firstborn of the Jewish people when they left Egypt. It is worth noting that for these two actions—the cleansing of the mother and the redemption of the son—it was unnecessary to go to the temple; however, Mary and Joseph sought to fulfill all obligations in Jerusalem. In his Gospel, We see how Luke emphasizes Jerusalem's theological significance.
It is incredible to witness this obedience to the Law. Mary did not require purification after giving birth to Jesus. From our perspective, that of God, the conception and birth of Jesus were entirely the work of the Holy Spirit. The Nativity of Jesus cleanses the world! He does not need redemption, either. He is not returned to His parents. He is personally dedicated to God in the temple, His exclusive property. That is why Luke does not mention anything about Jesus' act of redemption but states that He has been 'presented" and offered to God.
Yet, Mary and Joseph obey the Law. Thanks to their obedience, God's promises begin to be fulfilled. The Law is not at the center; the Person of Jesus is. Every letter of the Law points to Him. No one would need such letters if the Law did not lead to Him. Such letters can lead to death. A letter that does not lead to a living encounter with God is meaningless. He is the essence of every letter in God's law. Thus, St. Luke, although he speaks extensively about the Law at the beginning, directs us—if we truly listen to the Gospel—toward the person of Jesus. He is the center! It is He who enters the temple! So humble that He allows Himself to be carried by poor, simple people. He is fragile, tiny, and yet the Savior of the world! Clean, poor, obedient—Mary and Joseph obey the Law, but it is precisely through the prescriptions of the Law that the event occurring transforms into another event. God imparts a new meaning to it. They follow the Law, and God turns that obedience into a place of blessing, revealing a more profound significance to what they adhere to. They presented Jesus in the temple of God. Or rather, he, the Son, presents himself to the Father through the hands of the poor; he offers himself to the Father, to whom he entirely belongs, who sent him.
There is a hidden motive in this act of the already announced sacrifice of the One Priest. The little Jesus, carried in the arms of Mary and Joseph, is presented in the temple. As he grows up, he is the same Jesus who will cleanse the temple and become the Victim and High Priest of the New Covenant. He cleanses our temple. We allow Him to consecrate us, and from that point on, He purifies this place day after day, which is to be His temple - our hearts. The one who formed Mary's virgin heart consecrated her to Himself, allowing her to be born and brought into the world through a consecrated heart. St. Augustine wrote: "Christ the Truth is in Mary's heart. Christ the Body is in her womb. To be in the heart means more than being in the womb."
This is the very essence of our lives: the consecrated life. (Today, the Catholic Church celebrates World Day of Consecrated Life, established by Pope John Paul II in 1997.) This is the life of every priest who has received the sacrament of Holy Orders. However, we all need to show Jesus to the world, more through our hearts than our bodies, whatever that means; more internally than externally, spiritually than materially. We must present Him through a clean, humble, and obedient life like Mary and Joseph. Their obedience to the law and faithfulness to the regulations did not confine them to the letter of the law; instead, it opened them to God and the world. Their obedience was based not on the letter of the law but on love. In this way, God's love can be revealed in the world through obedience.
St. Luke reminds us that the love that fills and penetrates Mary's heart is the Crucified Love. Simeon prophesied about the Child and 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” (Lk 2:34-35). The salvation that Jesus brings to his people, which he embodies, comes through the Cross, through violent death, and through his total sacrifice. In this way, he overcomes the world. He transforms the world with the sacrifice of his life. We are no different if we truly wish to be with Jesus. Otherwise, we will not change this world, just as He showed. This offering is proclaimed in the presentation at the temple. We, too, were presented to God in the temple.
The Spirit described in today's Gospel hovers over us, just as He hovered over the entire event of Jesus' sacrifice and over Simeon and Anna. He is present above us in this moment. We believe in Him. He resides in us and among us. This is the Paraclete, the Spirit who protects and defends us; the Paraclete who comforts and stirs our hearts, just as He stirred the hearts of Simeon and Anna. The Spirit urged Simeon and Anna to speak prophetic words of blessing and praise to God. That Spirit positioned them for their roles when God appeared. This Spirit calls us to take Jesus into our arms once more and to embrace Him with our hearts and lives, for He is our salvation.
Until next time
fr. george