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First Reading: Malachi 3:1-4
Responsorial: Psalm 24:7-10
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:14-18
Gospel: Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
https://www.deaconrudysnotes.org/
Today we celebrate the presentation of the Lord. There are so many interesting things about today’s readings as a whole. Truly the interconnectedness among Malachi, the Psalm, Hebrews and Luke is fascinating. Even taken individually, each of the readings has so much meaning. And today’s Gospel has greatly influenced the life of the Church. For example, Luke’s description of Jesus as the light for the nations has inspired candlelight processions before mass, what we call Candlemas. And Simeon’s song of praise in the Gospel that begins, “Lord, now you let your servant go in peace …” that song of praise is prayed by the Church in Night Prayer every night, “…so that like Simeon, the faithful may end their days and their lives in God’s peace.” <1> Night Prayer is part of the Liturgy of the Hours or the Daily Office.
Ok, so my point is that there’s a lot of ground for you to explore on you own. But for today’s reflection, I would like us to focus on Simeon and Anna just for a bit. Luke describes them both as elderly, and they’re both waiting. Simeon was told by the Holy Spirit that he would live to see the Messiah. And Anna, Luke gives us a rather detailed introduction for her. We know she has spent the vast majority of her life praying and fasting at the Temple. We don’t know if she was also told to wait, nonetheless she has maintained this constant vigil almost for her entire life.
Now I suggest to you that to wait for so long is a sign of great faith. They believed in God and accepted God’s plan for their lives and they waited. What amazing faith!
Ok, here is one of the dangers of reading or listening to Scripture. We might come to the readings at mass passively – just going with the flow – and we might think to ourselves, “Well that was a nice story.” And when we do that, we miss out on the ways that the Holy Spirit is trying to guide us.
You see, so often in our Western culture, and perhaps more specifically in the United States I think, we want what we want when we want it. Right? If I want a double pumpkin spice latte with a dash of cinnamon and dash of nutmeg, then that’s what I want – and oh by the way, I want it now! I mean, that’s just an example. You get my point, right?
But it’s not about our latte. Oh no, before our latte even hits the counter, we’re on to the next thing. Maybe it’s a text message we’re responding to or maybe we’re scrolling through social media, or maybe we’re posting a status update. “Looking forward to the best cup of coffee ever! Heart emoji, thumbs up emoji, smiley face emoji.” But even in that update, we’re not in the present – we’re looking forward to the future. We can’t sit still and just be right here, right now.
Today’s Gospel suggests that what you want – what you believe you are being called to do or to see or to experience – will happen in God’s time, not your time. And that means you might need to wait an awful long time – maybe years and years. What do you think about that idea? I suspect that many of my over-achieving type AAA personality friends cringe when they hear me say that. Wait! For years! For what I want?!? Are you kidding me?!?
My brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel invites us to be open to the possibility that we might need to slow down before we can speed up – that if we are indeed the people of faith we say we are, then we might need to wait or to at least slow down for things to unfold in God’s time.
Homework! Nourished by the Word of God proclaimed and by the Eucharist, I invite you to reflect on the following two questions this week.
- When was the last time I sat down quietly and prayed to Jesus – and I mean just sit and speak to Jesus as I would any friend?
- What am I waiting for God to do? What are my sources of hope?
I think doing our homework will help us as disciples to slow down in order to speed up. Do you got it? Do you get it? Then go make disciples! May Almighty God bless you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! +Amen!
Citations:
<1> Pablo T. Gadenz, The Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018), 71.
References:
- Gadenz, Pablo T. The Gospel of Luke. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2018.
- Healy, Mary. Hebrews. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2016.
- Lectio Divina Of The Gospels. Washington, D.C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2019.
Catechism References: Easily search the Catechism at http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
- Jesus’ circumcision, 527
- Presentation of Jesus, 529
- Consolation of Israel, 711
- Sign of contradiction, 575, 587
- Jesus and the temple, 583
- Mary’s ordeal, 149
- Satan’s power, 407
- Jesus’ love for us, 609
- Jesus’ atoning death, 615, 1992
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Lectionary: 524
Mass Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020220.cfm
First Reading
Malachi 3:1-4
Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
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.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the LORD,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.
Responsorial
Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10
R. (8) Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD, strong and mighty,
the LORD, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The LORD of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Second Reading
Hebrews 2:14-18
Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
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.
Alleluia
Luke 2:32
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
A light of revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Luke 2:22-40 OR 2:22-32
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
–and you yourself a sword will pierce–
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.
or
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”