Today the church celebrates the feast of “The Presentation of the Lord” which occurs 40 days after the Nativity of Jesus and is also known as Candlemas Day. Today’s liturgy included the blessing and procession of candles.
Even though this feast was once referred to as “The Purification of Mary”, Jesus is the focus in today’s feast and today’s gospel. There is more going on in today’s gospel than meets our limited eyesight. Jesus is not simply presented in the temple as the first born male to Mary and Joseph, but also is the proclamation of the salvation Jesus would one day accomplish by his death and resurrection.
The law and the old testament prophets looked forward to the fulfillment of God’s mission for the human race. And today’s gospel is the official herald of that long awaited promise and covenant.
Simeon stood as the symbol of the faithful people of God and he knew well what was unfolding before him. He saw the long awaited light of Jesus Christ finally dawning on all the human race.
Simeon recalled the words of the prophets in which they heralded the universal message of salvation for the entire world, embodied now in this babe being presented to God in the temple.
No wonder Simeon was so amazed, he witnessed firsthand what had long been proclaimed, that the universal mission of God included all people, not just the chosen people of Israel. Inclusive though the mission is, it would come with danger-it would not be easy.
Believers will experience the same rejection Christ experienced and Simeon reminds those in his age and us that we can expect division as a result of our faith in Christ.This is where Mary, the mother of Jesus, who is upheld as human as us, listened to the Lord’s command, obeyed it, and then marveled at God’s work of salvation.
Mary is an example to us and we too are to hear God’s word as we are called by Him to be hearers and doers of the word. However, we are human. We, once in a while, stray from that yellow brick road only to walk down the path that leads to darkness. Yes, a commitment to Christ is not easy, to live in His light is not easy.
I recently read a personal testimony dealing with the struggles of living a life in faith which could of well been mine. I quote:
“I often pray that God mold and shape me into the person he wants me to be, but try though I may, I seem to fall back into the same old patterns of sin. I need a savior. The ego, my ego, is so strong that it is difficult to discern whether my heart is pure, my motives clean and my commitment to Christ is what it should be.”
“I often find myself distracted about worldly considerations. I find myself on the wrong track when I give into gossip, materialism and the daily grind of living. I often feel guilty that I am not living up to the ideal of abandoning my life to God’s life for me, God’s light and God’s love.”
” It is very easy to do the Lord’s work and subliminally believe in one’s own sense of entitlement. Today’s liturgy is a reminder that this salvation is not something to which we are entitled. It is pure gift. We cannot earn it on our own: We can only achieve it with the help of God. It is impossible to achieve on our own.”
“I often find myself arguing with God over what I perceive to be unanswered prayers. What has become Savior in my life is my dream and obsessive desire for peace, serenity and an illness-free existence for my loved ones.”
“I often pray and tell God what he needs to do to insure my peace and just when I think I have relinquished control of my life to Him, I find myself telling God how I want to be saved.”
“I often feel that perhaps God asks too much, when in fact all God wants is my heart and to daily, minute by minute, become conscious of his life that dwells within me. Very often I think the responsibility is all mine-I take on the role of savior, forgetting that I already have one and it is NOT me: it is Christ the Lord.” “End quote” Sound familiar??
We heard in the first reading from Malachi these words: “Yes, He is coming, says the Lord of Hosts. But who will endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?”
Being people of the light, ones who accept Jesus for who He is, our Savior, our reconciler, we should be confident, standing tall awaiting Jesus’ second coming, not in fear but in love. We proclaim that Jesus is among us now and we stand in love and thankfulness in showing us the way to the Father, showing us how to give ourselves to the will of God.
What a model of this in Mary. Mary is heralded as a model of faithful obedience to the will of God when she presents Jesus, the first-born to the temple. The law required first born males be offered to God for God’s service to the temple. Mary was a willing, obedient servant of God.
She listened, heard, and obeyed. She is a reminder that we too are called to faithful servant-hood. We remember and honor the Virgin Mary, Mother of God and model disciple. She reminds us that in the presentation of Jesus in the temple, Jesus will give much, even his life, so that all of us know what road to go down, what road will lead to our salvation, what road will lead us to the Father through her son, Jesus.
My sisters and brothers, the gospel today requires more than words, it requires faithful action. Those who live righteous lives can expect to be true citizens in the kingdom of God. This is what Jesus brings to us through his presentation in the temple. Let us hear, let us see with our hearts, and let us place our total trust in Jesus by total and loving surrender to the will of God.