HIS PRESENTATION: OUR PRESENTATION

This Feast takes place forty days after Christmas. It commemorates the day that Mary and Joseph brought Jesus into the Temple. The first reading of this solemn celebration – the Presentation of the Lord – has it that, ‘the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his Temple…’ (cf. Mal 3:1-4). The second reading reminds us of our common heritage in Christ who is so willing to be one with us in order to free us perpetual slavery. ‘Since the children share in flesh and blood. Jesus himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely, it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham’ (cf Hb 2:14-18). In the gospel passage, we relive that glorious moment when the prophecy of Malachy is fulfilled. The Lord enters his Temple as Mary and Joseph brought in the Child Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem, to present him to God. 

Beloved People of God, the Presentation of the Lord is our presentation too. Mary’s ritual purification, though She was pure and free from sin from her conception and the dedication of the Child Jesus, though he is the Son of God, certainly prescribed by the Law, were rituals performed for us all, on our behalf, as it were. Little wonder the second reading from the letter to the Hebrews emphasises that Jesus, ‘…had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people…’ (Hb 2:14-18).

As Mary and Joseph present Jesus, may we offer ourselves to be presented to God the Father, through His Son, our Lord and brother, in the Spirit.

Fr. Ted