Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. Malachi 3:3
He had to become like his brothers in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. Hebrews 2:17-18
“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in
Piety
Father, Christ became human for us and was brought into your presence in the temple. Through this encounter, may he free our hearts from sin in order to bring us into your presence.
O Blessed Mother, the sword is already in your heart. You know the future of the Fruit of your womb. May our fidelity in following Jesus through the mysteries of His public life bring some alleviation to the sorrows of your maternal heart. [1] Amen.
StudyWhat has happened to the days when people gave to charity out of unselfish motivations?
Marketing and capitalism imply an exchange of value for every transaction. If you want to support your favorite charity, you can make a gift and also receive a “premium” in exchange for that charity. That gift to public radio or public television might result in you getting a coffee mug, a tape of a favorite program or other gift. Even corporations have tied their giving to their marketing interests. “Enlightened self-interest” may mean that an oil company tells us how they clean up the environment or a computer company gives its product away to schools and libraries – hoping others will buy its products because the company appears so generous. Other times, we can purchase a product so a company will make a gift to charity.
Today, we have a window on Mary and Joseph being the model of unselfish and obedience givers. The Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord was known in the West as the feast of the Purification of Our Lady, and closed the Christmas season, forty days after the Lord's birth.[2] This celebrates the first solemn introduction of Jesus into the House of God.
According to the Mosaic law (Lev 12:2-8), the woman who gives birth to a boy is unable for forty days to touch anything sacred or to enter the temple area. At the end of this period she is required to offer a year-old lamb as a burnt offering and a turtledove or young pigeon. The woman who could not afford a lamb offered instead two turtledoves or two young pigeons, as Mary does here.[3]
As Simeon points out, Mary, through her obedience, will not be left untouched by the various reactions of the world to the role of Jesus. Her blessedness as mother of the Lord will be challenged by her son who describes true blessedness as “hearing the word of God and observing it.”
Aside from the turtle doves, there was no real cost nor reward to this symbolic act of obedience and charity. But the presentation of the Lord, certainly prefigured her sacrificial gift at the foot of the Cross. At the foot of the Cross, the sorrowful Mother reveals at once the quiet dignity of her love and the true sacrificial character of her charity. For Mary, the presentation of the Lord, offered in obedience to the Father, did not have a payback. It was a pure expression of love, a love that was tested and confirmed by the Cross.[4]
Action
Make a gift a charity today anonymously so you get nothing back, not even a thank you note.
Ask your parish priest to bless the candles that you will be using in your home this year.
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