Simeon holding Jesus and praising God at the Presentation of the Lord

Luke 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 open 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 have prepared in the sight of all 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 and 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 fufilled all the prescription 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.

Today, February 2, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. In some countries, this marks the end of the Christmas season. But, beyond that, there are many points to be made on this great Feast.

First, Joseph and Mary were committed Jews who were dedicated to following the prescripts of the law of Moses. That is why they brought Jesus to the temple to be presented to the Lord; it was required by the law. They also brought a sacrifice, again, as prescribed by the law. Luke doesn’t tell us which sacrifice they offered, two turtle doves or two young pigeons, likely because he didn’t know. But they did offer a sacrifice. When we come before God, we bring the gift of ourselves.

Then we have Simeon. Simeon is a righteous man. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before seeing “the Christ of the Lord.” God keeps His promises, and He kept His promise to Simeon. Simeon entered the temple in the Spirit. In other words, he was guided by the Holy Spirit to enter the temple. Did he know what to expect? I think so. For he went straight to the child Jesus and took Him from His mother’s arms. He proclaimed a blessing to God: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.” The Church calls this brief canticle the Nunc Dimittis, and it is recited every night as part of night prayer. It has often been put to song. Simeon tells the Lord that, now that God’s promise to him as been fulfilled, he is ready to go, and go in peace. Christ has fulfilled His promise to all of us. We should all be ready to go in peace at any point. We have not been promised even the next moment. Like Simeon, and the reason the Church prays his canticle at night prayer, we ought to be ready to go. Christ has given us new life. That life began at our baptisms. We are living eternal life now. Our deaths are merely passing to the next adventure in life, life in the kingdom!

Then Simeon turns to Mary, Jesus’ Mother and our Mother. His promise to her is a sword. She will suffer in witnessing the sufferings of her Son. What mother would not suffer so? She knew why He came. She knew He came to live a life of perfect obedience to the will of the Father, and that that life would lead to His death. The Church remembers this aspect of Mary’s life, her suffering, in her title Our Lady of Sorrows. There is a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows in the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. Seven swords pierce her heart. Our Mother’s sorrows are our sorrows. We weep at the sufferings of Christ, not because He is our Son, but because we know He suffers for our sakes. Had we not turned from Him, His sufferings would not be necessary. As it is, He suffers for our salvation. We weep with Mary, His Mother and ours.

But the Gospel ends on a happier note. Anna, a prophetess who essentially lives in the temple, spending her days in prayer and fasting, also comes to recognize Jesus as “the redemption of Jerusalem.” She cannot keep the good news to herself, but tells everyone. As Mary and Joseph return with Jesus to Nazareth, they are overwhelmed by all that has happened. Their child, the Lord Jesus, grew in strength and in wisdom and in the favor of God. How joyful the days of Jesus’ childhood must have been for His Mother and foster father. The pride Joseph must have felt in Jesus’ learning the Scriptures at his side, and in learning the trade of carpentry. The love Mary must have felt in seeing Jesus grow into boyhood, and then manhood, in God’s favor. The home in Nazareth must have been a happy place.

May each of our homes be filled with the joy experienced by the Holy Family as Jesus grew in strength, in wisdom, and in God’s favor. May our hearts, like those of Joseph and Mary, be filled with love for Jesus, even as we suffer with Mary because of His sufferings for our sakes. May that suffering be turned to joy on that day we go in peace to the Lord, raised to new life as Jesus was, and glorified as He was. To share in the very nature of God is our destiny and hope. It is the promise of Jesus. And Jesus keeps His promises.

Be Christ for all. Bring Christ to all. See Christ in all.