Presntation of the Lord in the Temple 2ne February (C)

 

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time (C)

Feast of Presentation of the Lord in the Temple [Lk 2:22-40]

02.02.2025

Jesus is the Light of Revelation

Readings: (1) Mal 3:1-4 (2) Heb 2:14-18

1.    Theme in brief

The effects of our baptismal consecration

2.    Focus Statement

Just as the Child Jesus was consecrated to God at the time of his Presentation in the Temple, we too are consecrated or totally dedicated to God and for his purpose by our baptism; hence we belong to God and not the world.

3.    Explanation of the text

Today’s gospel text sounds like a second ‘epiphany’ of the Lord (according to Luke), because here also Child Jesus is proclaimed as the light of revelation to the Gentiles by Simeon.

Presentation of Jesus in the Temple serves two purposes: (1) to designate him as holy to the Lord, as the Law of Moses prescribed for all the firstborn (2:23); and (2) purification of Mary after fourty days of childbirth; again, to fulfill the same Law (2:22). The parents of Jesus are presented here as law-abiding and devout Jews who faithfully observe the Law of Moses. Due to their poverty, they offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or pigeons as per the Law, instead of offering a lamb. Thus, in the given text, Luke highlights two things: their faithfulness to religious duties and their utter poverty.

As per the Law of Moses, all the firstborn are to be consecrated to the Lord, as they belong to him (Ex 13:2). Accordingly, Child Jesus is offered to God, or consecrated for his service. This act indicates that Jesus totally belongs to God, and not to the world or to his natural family.

Here comes Simeon, a righteous and devout man. The Holy Spirit who rests on him guides him to go to the Temple of Jerusalem exactly at the time the parents of Jesus come for their purification. As he takes the Baby in his arms, with the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, he recognizes the Baby as “the light of revelation to the Gentiles” and “the glory of Israel” (2:28, 32).  Jesus is light in two ways: (1) for the Gentiles he opens the door of salvation by revealing God’s plan for them; (2) for the chosen people (Israelites) by revealing God’s glory; because he is the realization of all the promises made to “Abraham and his descendants for ever” (Lk 1:55).

The Messiah was considered as the “consolation of Israel” (2:25) in Jewish circles, since he would come to fulfill their long awaited desire to see him. As Simeon was looking forward to see the Messiah as the comforter of Israel, he was delighted that his hope and lifelong dream was now fulfilled before it was time for him to depart from this world (2:29). We can very well imagine how happy Simeon might have felt, when he realized God’s purpose or plan was being fulfilled personally for him, for the rest of Israel and for all people (Gentiles). To see Jesus is to see God’s salvation (2:30). He recognizes the Babe in his arms as the fulfillment of God’s promise of salvation to both Jews and Gentile.

4.    Application to life

Today’s feast leads us to a deeper reflection on our baptismal consecration. Just like Child Jesus, we too become consecrated persons by our baptism, totally dedicated to God. In the rite of baptism, this is expressed by the rite of anointing the chest of infants or the hands of adults with the oil of catechumens. At the time of dedication of the churches, just as the altars are sanctified by anointing them with oil, so also all the baptized are consecrated to the Lord and become his ‘temple’. This indicates that because of our baptism consecration we do not belong to ourselves anymore but to God, who imparts divine life to us.

What is consecration? It means to be set apart, or separated, for use by the Lord. It is the offering of our whole being to God. In the Bible it implies the separation of oneself from anything that may contaminate or defile one’s relationship with a holy God. Hence it also has the connotation of sanctification or holiness. Our initial consecration that took place at baptism needs to be renewed by a continual attitude of surrendering our lives totally to the Lord in our daily lives. This daily consecration sanctifies all our activities, since God separates us from the worldly contamination. In an highly secularized world, we are daily challenged either to live by the standards of the world such as worship of money/wealth, power and status, or standards of God such as service, sacrifice, selfless love, mercy and peace.

St. Paul says that we are God’s temple, and are holy just as God’s temple is (1 Cor 3:16). He also says that we must present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is our spiritual worship (Rom12:1). His instruction implies that we have to offer our bodies, all the bodily needs, all the concerns and works that are essential to feed, maintain and protect our bodies as an act of worship to God. According to him, worship implies not only liturgy and prayer, but also the offering of everyday life and its concerns to God. When we go to Church we normally say that we go to worship God. True. But today’s feast teaches us to think that we worship God also in and through our work. When we go for our daily duties to office/ factory/ mines/ field/ or to any workplace we go to ‘worship’ God. How? When we do our work with the attitude that we glorify God through our work and cooperate with him to continue his creation, and consider our work as an opportunity to serve humanity, it becomes holy and acceptable to the Lord.

It is said, “Work is worship.” This does not mean work is to be deified to the extent of worshipping it instead of God, and besides it there is no other God to be worshiped. What this saying means is that we bring glory to God by doing all our works according to his will and in his presence. Then all our works become sanctified, and through our works God’s name is sanctified. Do we do our works with this attitude? If we regularly cultivate this attitude in our mind, even the hardest and the most monotonous work can become lighter and joyful.

Every day’s consecration does not happen automatically. We have to consciously practice it by making an act of our will. We have to make a decision of our mind everyday to offer all our works, relationships, activities, concerns and in fact our whole life as an offering to God. This will lead us to acquire the following attitudes: (1) All that we are, have, or want to be in future, is now in the Lord's hands. (2) In full response to God’s love, we offer to him whatever we have and are. Whatever we have is his gift to us, and whatever we give is our gift to him. Therefore, we lovingly and willingly return to him whatever he has given us, without any reserve.

Since our consecration to God separates or sets us apart from ways of the world, today we need to examine ourselves whether we live a life, which is different from the ways of the world, or we compromise with the values and evil ways of the world. St. Paul urges us not to be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of our minds regularly (Rom 12:2).  Jesus also prayed that his disciples may be consecrated (sanctified or dedicated) to the service of God (Jn 17:17), so that, though they are in the world, they may not belong to the world (Jn 17:16). What it means is that we should not agree with, imitate or copy all the fashions and fads of the world, nor blindly ape all its values. We have to ask ourselves whether we are often driven by secular values such as power-mongering, corrupt practices, consumerism, name and fame, popularity at the cost of following no principles in personal conduct, etc. If we do not want to be contaminated or defiled by these worldly values, we need to transform our attitudes by making a decision of our minds to live up to our consecration, as Paul says.

In today’s gospel text we notice the long awaited hope as well as the lifelong dream of Simeon being fulfilled before his death, as he held the Child in his arms. Similarly, when our time comes to hand over our spirit to God, will we be able to say, “My mission is accomplished; now, Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace?” For this, we need to have a personal vision or blueprint for our lives, a mental picture of the values we would like to be realized in our lifetime.  Like Simeon, we should formulate a wish or an aspiration in our minds (even write it down) about the specific contribution we would like to make to this world before we die. He was delighted to see God’s plan of salvation being fulfilled both for Israelites and Gentiles. Personally, from the perspective of Christian faith, our life becomes meaningful to the degree that we allow God to realize his plan for us, in the particular way he wants. Then we can say with complete serenity like Simeon: “Master, now you can dismiss your servant in peace” from this world (2:29).

Mary underwent ritual purification, though it was not necessary for her, as she was already pure. We can take it as a renewal of her original ‘fiat’ or offering of herself to do God’s will and to accomplish his plans. We need to purify our minds to understand God’s purpose and accept it in faith as Mary did. Doing what God wants freely is the source of joy for us, as it was for Mary and Simeon. How far is this true about us? Secondly, by our service or specific contribution to human society, we can see God’s salvation at work in others, especially when we see them developing, improving and changing for the better. Does it make us happy?

5.    Response to God's Word

Do we live a life, which is different from the ways of the world? To whom do we belong: to God or to the world? Do we blindly ape all the values of the world and totally forget our basic consecration? Do we compromise with evil? Do we offer all our works, relationships, activities, concerns and in fact our whole life as an offering to God? Is there any specific dream that we wish to be realized in our lifetime? Do we purify our minds to be attuned to God’s will?

6.    A prayer

Sovereign God, you have given all that I am and possess. In return, lovingly I give myself to you totally. Take me where you want to take; give me what you want to give; lead me in your paths. Here am I Lord to do your will. Together with Jesus, I offer my body, all the bodily needs, all the concerns that are essential to feed, maintain and protect my as an act of worship to you. May my sacrifice be acceptable to you as you accept the sacrifice of you Son Jesus. Amen.