Presentation of the Lord in the Temple, Sunday, February 2nd, 2014
Fr. Todd Bragg
St. Margaret Anglican Church
Indianapolis, Indiana
" For mine eyes have seen Thy salvation." (St. Luke 2:22ff)
In this second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, St. Luke is kind enough to share with us three different religious customs that the Holy Family took part in. Just prior to the where the Gospel began in Mass today, we heard about the Circumcision of Our Lord and the Naming of the Child Jesus. Then in today's Gospel passage, we heard about the Presentation of the Child Jesus and the Purification of the Blessed Mother.
We hear in verse 22 of today's Gospel: "And when the days of her purification . . ." St. Luke cites Leviticus 12:2: "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, if a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child, then she shall be unclean seven days." Hence, St. Mary was fulfilling the law in her Purification in the Temple.
Also, we hear of the Presentation of the Child Jesus. This custom is mentioned as well in Exodus 13:2: "Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel both of man and beast; it is Mine." Here, the Lord reminds all the children of Israel that the firstborn, whether it be of man or of beast, belong to Him. Some commentators believe that possibly this went back to pre-Jewish customs/practices where the first born would be offered up in sacrifice. When we think of Abraham and his offer to sacrifice his son, this may not be too hard to imagine. Other commentators believe that offering up the first born to God is showing dedication to God and appreciation for the gift of life that is represented in our children. It is certainly something to think about: i.e., God gives life to us and we offer it back to the same God who bestowed it upon us. Isn't this what Christianity all about or what it should be about?
St. Luke reminds us that St. Joseph and St. Mary offered up two turtle doves as their offering to the Temple. This tells us that that the Holy Family was actually poor because normally the offering was supposed to be a lamb, unless you were poor, then you were directed to sacrifice two turtle doves.
Now this brings us to Simeon. As we have talked about in the past, the children of Israel were expecting the arrival of the Messiah but as we have discussed they were expecting the Messiah to be very powerful and to come with great armies and to help establish Israel as a geographic super power over all their enemies.
There were, on the other hand, certain people who were constant in prayer; in humble adoration; and faithful expectation. These people were known as the "Quiet in the Land" and they humbly prayed for the coming of the Messiah and did not really focus too much on the political ramifications of His Coming. This was Simeon. He humbled himself before God daily in the Temple and the Holy Ghost had told him that he would not see death until he had laid eyes on the Messiah. Thus, we can only envision Simeon and his excitement when he laid eyes on the Child Jesus and he knew this was the Messiah, so long awaited. He presented the Child Jesus in the Temple and he blessed God for the Gift that He had bestowed not only on Israel, but on all of mankind!
Afterward, Simeon spoke to St. Mary. What he stated can be broken down into four things.
1) "Jesus will be the cause of many to fall." Keep in mind that God never causes anyone to fall. Why would He send His Only Begotten Son into the world to save the world if He wanted the world to fall? We cause ourselves to fall by not accepting Jesus as our own personal Saviour.
2) "Jesus will be the cause of many to rise." Those who rise will be the ones to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour . . . those who rise will be the ones who follow God in His commandments . . . those who rise will be the ones who follow Our Lords directives to "love one another as I have loved you." "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein." (Hosea 14:9)
3) "Jesus will be met with much opposition." If we look throughout the Gospels, we soon see that this third point was certainly an understatement, to say the least. But we should remind ourselves that if Our Blessed Saviour Himself faced so much opposition, we should not be surprised in the least when being a Christian will bring us opposition. If you doubt me, just make a point to stand up for God. Make a point to stand up for something you believe in. Make a point to defend someone who you see being picked on. Make a point to stand up for your convictions and pretty soon you will find all sorts of opposition.
4) Simeon said to St. Mary that "a sword shall pierce through your own soul." When you think of all the people who ever lived, who do you think was the happiest person in the history of the world? If you would ask me, it was Our Lady. When you think about it, she was in the presence of God for over thirty years. This was her Son. She lived with Him, raised Him, cared for Him, ate with Him, worked with Him, enjoyed life with Him. She saw Him grow from a baby to a boy to a man. And while she spent so many wonderful times with Him, her heart was also broken as well. When she could not find Him and found Him teaching in the Temple. When she saw her Son mocked and ridiculed. When she saw Him cruelly scourged at the pillar and made to carry His own Cross. And, finally, when she saw Him die an agonizing death on the Cross. Each one of times, as Simeon predicted, a sword pierced her heart and her soul.
We should learn from this lesson that even after we dedicated our lives to God, we know that there will be times when we will be tried . . . when we will be persecuted . . . when we will face challenges . . . when we will be mocked for our beliefs . . and yet, just like the Blessed Mother, God was with her in the good times and the bad. And, she remained faithful to Him as well in the good times and the bad. The same can be said for us that we should remain faithful to God no matter what . . . in the good times and the bad.
In this second chapter of St. Luke's Gospel, St. Luke is kind enough to share with us three different religious customs that the Holy Family took part in. Just prior to the where the Gospel began in Mass today, we heard about the Circumcision of Our Lord and the Naming of the Child Jesus. Then in today's Gospel passage, we heard about the Presentation of the Child Jesus and the Purification of the Blessed Mother.
We hear in verse 22 of today's Gospel: "And when the days of her purification . . ." St. Luke cites Leviticus 12:2: "Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, if a woman have conceived seed, and born a man child, then she shall be unclean seven days." Hence, St. Mary was fulfilling the law in her Purification in the Temple.
Also, we hear of the Presentation of the Child Jesus. This custom is mentioned as well in Exodus 13:2: "Sanctify unto Me all the firstborn, whatsoever openeth the womb among the children of Israel both of man and beast; it is Mine." Here, the Lord reminds all the children of Israel that the firstborn, whether it be of man or of beast, belong to Him. Some commentators believe that possibly this went back to pre-Jewish customs/practices where the first born would be offered up in sacrifice. When we think of Abraham and his offer to sacrifice his son, this may not be too hard to imagine. Other commentators believe that offering up the first born to God is showing dedication to God and appreciation for the gift of life that is represented in our children. It is certainly something to think about: i.e., God gives life to us and we offer it back to the same God who bestowed it upon us. Isn't this what Christianity all about or what it should be about?
St. Luke reminds us that St. Joseph and St. Mary offered up two turtle doves as their offering to the Temple. This tells us that that the Holy Family was actually poor because normally the offering was supposed to be a lamb, unless you were poor, then you were directed to sacrifice two turtle doves.
Now this brings us to Simeon. As we have talked about in the past, the children of Israel were expecting the arrival of the Messiah but as we have discussed they were expecting the Messiah to be very powerful and to come with great armies and to help establish Israel as a geographic super power over all their enemies.
There were, on the other hand, certain people who were constant in prayer; in humble adoration; and faithful expectation. These people were known as the "Quiet in the Land" and they humbly prayed for the coming of the Messiah and did not really focus too much on the political ramifications of His Coming. This was Simeon. He humbled himself before God daily in the Temple and the Holy Ghost had told him that he would not see death until he had laid eyes on the Messiah. Thus, we can only envision Simeon and his excitement when he laid eyes on the Child Jesus and he knew this was the Messiah, so long awaited. He presented the Child Jesus in the Temple and he blessed God for the Gift that He had bestowed not only on Israel, but on all of mankind!
Afterward, Simeon spoke to St. Mary. What he stated can be broken down into four things.
1) "Jesus will be the cause of many to fall." Keep in mind that God never causes anyone to fall. Why would He send His Only Begotten Son into the world to save the world if He wanted the world to fall? We cause ourselves to fall by not accepting Jesus as our own personal Saviour.
2) "Jesus will be the cause of many to rise." Those who rise will be the ones to accept Jesus as their personal Saviour . . . those who rise will be the ones who follow God in His commandments . . . those who rise will be the ones who follow Our Lords directives to "love one another as I have loved you." "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them? For the ways of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall therein." (Hosea 14:9)
3) "Jesus will be met with much opposition." If we look throughout the Gospels, we soon see that this third point was certainly an understatement, to say the least. But we should remind ourselves that if Our Blessed Saviour Himself faced so much opposition, we should not be surprised in the least when being a Christian will bring us opposition. If you doubt me, just make a point to stand up for God. Make a point to stand up for something you believe in. Make a point to defend someone who you see being picked on. Make a point to stand up for your convictions and pretty soon you will find all sorts of opposition.
4) Simeon said to St. Mary that "a sword shall pierce through your own soul." When you think of all the people who ever lived, who do you think was the happiest person in the history of the world? If you would ask me, it was Our Lady. When you think about it, she was in the presence of God for over thirty years. This was her Son. She lived with Him, raised Him, cared for Him, ate with Him, worked with Him, enjoyed life with Him. She saw Him grow from a baby to a boy to a man. And while she spent so many wonderful times with Him, her heart was also broken as well. When she could not find Him and found Him teaching in the Temple. When she saw her Son mocked and ridiculed. When she saw Him cruelly scourged at the pillar and made to carry His own Cross. And, finally, when she saw Him die an agonizing death on the Cross. Each one of times, as Simeon predicted, a sword pierced her heart and her soul.
We should learn from this lesson that even after we dedicated our lives to God, we know that there will be times when we will be tried . . . when we will be persecuted . . . when we will face challenges . . . when we will be mocked for our beliefs . . and yet, just like the Blessed Mother, God was with her in the good times and the bad. And, she remained faithful to Him as well in the good times and the bad. The same can be said for us that we should remain faithful to God no matter what . . . in the good times and the bad.
