{"id":2927,"date":"2021-02-01T12:13:10","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T11:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/predication.net\/?p=2927"},"modified":"2021-02-01T12:30:01","modified_gmt":"2021-02-01T11:30:01","slug":"feast-of-the-presentation-of-the-lord","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/predication.net\/?p=2927","title":{"rendered":"Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Luke 2,22-40"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Today’s young Christians are not so indifferent to the faith. Many among them are not satisfied with the mere fact that the Church has a holiday, such as today; Sacrifice of the Lord – Groundhog Day; they will go to church, but they want to know as much as possible about the holiday. It is right when a person knows something and can be convinced of the correctness, and so he finds a way to fulfill his duties, not only among young people but at any age. The passage from the Gospel we read describes the precepts given by the Lord Jesus to the Jews as Mary and Joseph complied with him around this event. We know from the Old Testament how God showed His power over Pharaoh when he did not want to release the Jewish people from Egyptian slavery. The last blow was difficult for them. The angel of death killed all the firstborn, both human and animal, in houses whose doors were not marked with the blood of a lamb. In memory of the salvation of the firstborn Jews, each firstborn son was considered God’s property. Therefore, on the 40th day after the boy’s birth, they carried the child to Jerusalem, placed it in the hands of the priest, and redeemed the son by making the prescribed sacrifice. It was 5 hips, which was a reward for five working days. There was also another church celebration at that time – the cleansing of the child’s mother. On that occasion, the mother was obliged to offer the sacrifice of a lamb, and when she did not have one, it was enough to offer the sacrifice of two doves or pigeons. The fact that Maria and Joseph brought a couple of doves proves that they were inferior. In each parish, some people regularly attend Holy Mass and other liturgical bows. So it was in the temple in Jerusalem. Many Jews, when they heard the voice of the trumpets ringing like our bells into the temple, left their jobs and went to pray. It is true that the Jerusalem Temple was large and had precise laws, both liturgical and orderly, who and where could stay. Women were separated from men. In this context, we read about Simeon and Anne. They were among the faithful to God. For this, by God’s permission, they had the grace to see the Redeemer here on earth. At the Holy Spirit’s prompting, Simeon offered Mary a prophecy about her suffering with her Son. We understand the words that Joseph and Mary returned to Nazareth with the child so that Matthew does not describe events such as the flight to Egypt. When Luke writes, believers already know the Gospel of Matthew. Therefore, he does not write about what we already know from Matthew but immediately writes that they returned to Nazareth after all these events.<\/h2>\n
The feast tells us about the great events of the life of Jesus and Mary. From this came various speculations about whether today’s feast is the feast of the Virgin Mary or the Lord Jesus. Today’s holiday is not commanded. We consider this feast day to be the feast of the Lord because the Lord Jesus shows us faithfulness by the commandment of his Father, who commanded the sacrifice to the nation through Moses. Jesus became like us in everything but sin, and therefore in keeping the law. The Virgin Mary gave this holiday a Marian character in that she also did the will of God the Father. This holiday is one of the oldest in the Church. After the persecution of the persecution in the 4th century, a procession with candles in Rome is mentioned. The content of today’s celebration is that the Lord Jesus, as a child, is brought to the temple, the priesthood of the Old Testament ends, and it is through him and him that the new priesthood begins. For a thousand years, accompanied by lighted candles, the Church recalls Simeon’s words: “…. a light for the enlightenment of the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32). Today’s symbolism of light draws our attention to the pattern and following of Jesus, especially when today’s celebration occurs in the evening and in a solemn manner accompanied by lighted candles. Today’s symbolism of light draws our attention to the pattern and following of Jesus, especially when today’s celebration occurs in the evening and in a festive manner accompanied by lighted candles. Today’s celebration is also called a holiday – the Maid of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This holiday is known in many countries around the world. We call on the Virgin Mary as a guardian in trouble. In the past, the fire has often caused many misfortunes, especially when lit with candles. This light was entrusted to the Virgin Mary. Lightning also caused a great deal of disaster. If it became a long time ago that today candles were blessed, lit during disasters, and in their light, the believers prayed and asked for the Virgin Mary’s protection – the Groundhog. Today we shine with electric light, and lightning conductors protect our homes. However, this is no reason to say that what was in the past was a superstition; this holiday is losing its significance today. On the contrary, today, we ask Jesus and Mary for help in even worse calamities and storms. The candles we bless today will remind us with their light of the closeness and presence of Jesus and Mary in our prayers. Today is 40 days since we spent the holidays of peace and love in the family circle. Today, we cannot, and especially not children, imagine a Christmas tree without colored electric candles. When the family prays together, it is the candle and its light that can help us focus, take ourselves into the presence of God, and improve our conversation. Or with God. In prayer, we are to know Simeon and Anna our God. We are to approach prayer with such naturalness and fidelity to God as they performed their duties to the Law of Mary and Joseph. Today we must realize that a good Christian should not shirk his duties to his soul. In the case of Mary and Joseph, we do not encounter the excuse that Herod is reaching for their child. They perform everything faithfully and conscientiously.<\/h2>\n
We realize that Simeon’s words are being fulfilled today: “He is ordained to fall and to rise up for many in Israel, and to a sign to which they will oppose” (Luke 2:34). Jesus is unrecognized, denied, and mocked. The second prophecy of Simeon is fulfilled: “And the sword shall pierce thy own soul” (Luke 2:35).<\/h2>\n
And today we see real respect for Mary, but also public and open attacks on her mission in the Church. Some believers are open to God. Although not every day, but as determined by ecclesiastical law on Sunday and the commanded feast, they participate in holy masses or church events. The second part of the believers ignores the spiritual life. Judgment is left to Christ. However, who here on earth consciously and voluntarily denies the light of the teachings of Christ, must reckon with the words of Jesus, who speaks of darkness and pain for those who despised the invitation to a wedding feast or exchanged the wedding robe in their lives for something insignificant and secondary. The lighted candle in our hands is an address for us from Mary and Jesus so that we do not extinguish the light of grace in our hearts. It is a challenge for each of us to be a role model, an example, and an encouragement in our lives.<\/h2>\n
At one stadium, where a liturgical celebration was held, during the intercession, the preacher asked the organizers to turn off all the lights. It was dark in the stadium. The preacher then lit a candle. He asked those present if they saw her. On the other hand, they also answered – yes. They saw a small light. The preacher then called on anyone with a match, lighter, flashlight, or other light to light it. The darkness in the stadium was gone. The more sources they ignited, the more light there was. Finally, the preacher remarks: – This is how it should be in our society. When one shines a good example, others will see it. When we all strive for this, in our environment, the darkness of unbelief and sin will turn into a pleasant light of peace and love. –<\/h2>\n
And something similar wants to remind us today of this holiday – the Sacrifice of the Lord. Let us sacrifice ourselves for the salvation of our souls. Let us sacrifice our examples for the encouragement of faith for our neighbors. On this feast day, Mary and Jesus invite us to follow them with their light of the good Christian life. And this is what our young friends need today. They need it more than we adults think. Our young people are not satisfied with phrases, words without deeds, but examples of our lives. And they are right.<\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"