Presentation of the Lord C Luke 2,22-40

We know from the Old Testament how God showed His power over Pharaoh when He would not release the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage. The last plague was brutal for them. The angel of death killed all the firstborn of both people and animals in the houses whose doors were not marked with the lamb’s blood. In remembrance of the rescue of the firstborn Jews, every firstborn son was considered the property of God. Therefore, on the 40th day after the birth of a baby boy, they carried the child to Jerusalem, placed him in the hands of the priest, and by the passing of the prescribed sacrifice, redeemed the son. This amounted to 5 shekels, the wages of five days’ work. There was also one more church ceremony at that time – the purification of the child’s mother. On that occasion, the mother was obliged to bring the sacrifice of a lamb, and if she did not have this, it was sufficient to get the gift of two turtledoves or pigeons. Mary and Joseph brought a pair of turtledoves, proving inferior. In every parish, some people regularly attend Mass and other liturgical reverences. This was also the case in the Jerusalem temple. Many of the Jews, when they heard the sound of the trumpets, which called like our bells to the temple, left their work and went to pray. It is true that the Jerusalem Temple was large and had specific laws, both liturgical and orderly, as to who could stay where. Women were separated from men. It is in this context that we read of Simeon and Hannah. They were among the faithful to God. In return, by God’s permission, they were granted the grace to see the Redeemer already here on earth. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Simeon made a prophecy to Mary about her co-suffering with her Son. We understand the words that Joseph and Mary returned with the child to Nazareth to mean that Matthew is not recounting events such as the flight into Egypt. When Luke writes, the Gospel of Matthew is already familiar to believers. Therefore, he is not telling what we already know from Matthew, but he immediately writes that after all these events, they returned to Nazareth.

The feast tells us about the significant events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. This has given rise to various conjectures about whether today’s feast is the feast of the Virgin Mary or the Lord Jesus. Today’s feast is not commanded. We consider today’s feast to be the feast of the Lord because the Lord Jesus shows us faithfulness to the commands of His Father, who ordered the sacrifice to the nation through Moses. Jesus has become like us in everything except sin, fulfilling the law. The Virgin Mary gave today’s feast a Marian character in that she likewise did the will of God the Father. This feast is one of the oldest in the Church. After the silencing of persecution in the 4th century, the candlelight procession in Rome is mentioned. The content of today’s feast is that the Lord Jesus as a child, is brought into the temple, ending the priesthood of the Old Testament and beginning a new priesthood in him and through him. For a thousand years now, with a procession of lighted candles, the Church has remembered the words of Simeon: “…. light for the enlightenment of the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32).
Today’s symbolism of light draws our attention to the example and following of Jesus, especially when today’s celebration takes place in the evening and solemnly in a procession with lighted candles. Today’s symbolism of light draws our attention to the pattern and following of Jesus, especially as today’s celebration takes place in the evening and solemnly in a procession with lighted candles. Today’s feast is also called the Feast of – Our Lady of the Thunder. This feast is known in many countries of the world. We invoke Our Lady as a protector in times of trouble. In the past, it often happened that fire caused many misfortunes, especially when lit with candles. Our Lady was entrusted with this light. Also, many accidents were caused by lightning. If long ago, the custom was adopted that today the candles lit in disasters were blessed, and by their light, the faithful prayed and asked for protection to Our Lady of Thunder.
Today we shine electric lights, and our dwellings are protected by lightning rods. However, this is no reason to say that what was in the past was superstition; today, this feast is losing its significance. On the contrary, today, we ask Jesus and Mary for help in even worse disasters and storms. The candles we bless today will remind us by their light of the closeness and presence of Jesus and Mary in our prayers. Today marks 40 days since we experienced the feast of peace and love in the family circle. Today, we, especially children, cannot imagine a Christmas tree without colored electric candles. When the family prays together, it is the candle and it’s light that can help us to focus, to enter into the presence of God, and to enhance our conversation with God. In prayer, we recognize, like Simeon and Anna, our God. We are to approach prayer with as much self-evidence and faithfulness to God as Mary and Joseph did their duties to the Law. Today, we realize that a good Christian is not to forget his responsibilities to his soul. We do not encounter the excuse that Herod was reaching out to their child with Mary and Joseph. They fulfill everything faithfully and conscientiously.

We realize that the words of Simeon are already being fulfilled today, “He is appointed for the fall and the rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which they will resist.” (Lk 2:34). The disobedience of the commands, the public rejection of God’s laws, is temporal. Jesus is unrecognized, denied, and mocked. The second prediction of Simeon is fulfilled: “And a sword shall pierce your soul.” (Luke 2:35).

And today, we see a genuine reverence for Mary and the public and open attacks against her mission in the Church. A part of the faithful is available to God. Although not every day, as Church law determined on Sundays and commanded feast days, they participate in Holy Mass or Church events. The other part of the faithful ignores the spiritual life. Judgment is left to Christ. But those who knowingly and willingly deny the light of Christ’s teachings here on earth must reckon with the words of Jesus, who speaks of darkness and pain for those who have despised the invitation to the wedding feast, or have mistaken the wedding garment in their lives for something unimportant and secondary. The lighted candle in our hands is an address to us from Mary and Jesus that the light of grace in our hearts not be extinguished. It is a call to each of us to be a model, an example, and an encouragement in our lives.

In one stadium where a liturgical celebration was taking place, the preacher asked the organizers to turn off all the lights during the sermon. The stadium went dark. The preacher then lit one candle. He asked those present if they could see it. Those on the other side answered yes. They saw a small light. Then the preacher invited all those who had a match, lighter, torch, or different light to light it. The darkness in the stadium disappeared. The more sources they landed, the more light there was. Finally, the preacher remarked, -This is the way it should be in our society. When one shines by a good example, others will see it. If we all strive to do this, the darkness of unbelief and sin in our environment will be transformed into the pleasant light of peace and love.

And something like this is what today’s feast – the Presentation of the Lord – wants to remind us of today. Let us sacrifice ourselves for the salvation of our souls. Let us offer our examples for the encouragement in faith for our neighbors. On today’s feast, Mary and Jesus invite us to follow them with our light of good Christian living. And this is what our young friends need today. They require it more than perhaps we adults think. Our young people will not settle for platitudes, words without deeds, but for the examples of our lives. And they are right.

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