The Presentation of the Lord

 Reflection on Today's Readings, the Feast of Presentation of the Lord, Monday 2nd February, 2022
Texts: Mal. 3: 1-4; Ps. 24:7.8.9.10; Heb. 2: 14-18; Luke 2:22-40
Presentation of the Lord marks the fulfilment of the law of Moses in the life of Jesus and in the Blessed Virgin Mary. Today's celebration recalls the wonder of God among the people of God. It recalls that the people of God were not allowed to go by their slave masters, the Egyptians, untill God killed their firstborn  males, both of the human and animals while He passed them over. In memory of this event, they were to offer to God their first male children, both of humans and animals.  However, God allowed their sons and some other animals to be redeemed, that is, other things could be offered in place of them to God. In the words of Moses: "When the Lord has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and your ancestors, and has given it to you, you shall set apart to the Lord all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your livestock that are males shall be the Lord’s. But every firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a sheep; if you do not redeem it, you must break its neck. Every firstborn male among your children you shall redeem. When in the future your child asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you shall answer, ‘By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from human firstborn to the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the Lord every male that first opens the womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ It shall serve as a sign on your hand and as an emblem on your forehead that by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt" (Ex. 13:11-16). A first male child was to be redeemed by making an offering to the temple (Num.  18:15-16).
Today's celebration is about the offering of Jesus Christ to God through an offering to the temple. This celebration, therefore, looked towards the Eucharistic celebration in which Jesus Christ is offered through bread and wine to God the Father. Thomas Pazhayampallil expresses this thought thus: "Today we celebrate the first offertory of the  first Mass. Jesus comes to the temple and offers Himself to God the Father" (Word of Eternal Life, vol. 2, p. 39). Holy Mass also recalls the freedom of the new people of God from the slavery to sin and redemption from the power of the evil one just as redemption and the offering of first male child recalls the freedom of God's people of old. Just as the people paid redemptive price for their first sons with an offering to the temple so also Jesus Christ paid our redemptive price with His Blood. At Mass we offer ourselves together with Jesus Christ to God the Father; we are reminded that we are paid for with the Blood of Jesus Christ and so we belong to Him.
The presentation of the Lord also reminds us of consecrated life; those who have offered themselves to God. These are those who profess Evangelical counsels - poverty, chastity and obedience - for the sake of the kingdom of God. The Evangelical counsels are the expression of their love for God. Thomas Pazhayampallil writes: "Today is declared by Pope JohnPaul II as the World Day for Consecrated Life. The reasons for establishing this day as the World Day for Consecrated Life is threefold. First, it answers the intimate need to praise the Lord solemnly and to thank him for the gift of Consecrated Life. Secondly, this is intended to promote knowledge of and esteem for Consecrated Life by the entire people of God. Thirdly, consecrated people are invited to celebrate together solemnly the marvels, which the Lord has accomplished in them, to acquire a more vivid awareness of their irreplaceable mission in the Church and in the world" (p. 40). Today we are to appreciate those who belong to Consecrated Life and thank God for what they have been to the Church and to the world.
Today's first reading looked forward to the presentation of the Lord, for it says, "and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts." It also speaks beforehand of our purification through His payment of our redemptive price. It says, "But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till they present right offerings to the Lord. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years." He purifies us with the shedding of His blood. At baptism He cleanses us of our sins with the punishment due to the sins and at confessional He forgives us our sins. In today's gospel reading purification is also mentioned. The presentation of our Lord also went with the purification of His mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary. Pazhayampallil writes about the purification thus: "Certainly Mary was not bound by the above law of Moses. Nevertheless she fulfilled the law of Moses in order that she might be an example to us in everything and also in order that she might not scandalise others. Here we have an example of humility and obedience" (p. 39).
The second reading reminds us that Jesus Christ understands our challenges and troubles, our desires and needs. He understands us because He is one of us. The second reading shows that today's celebration is the presentation of God the Son in His humanity to God the Father. In the Son, humanity is offered to God the Father. It means we are also presented to God the Father. Having been presented to God, we are to live for Him alone.

Almighty ever-living God, we humbly implore your majesty that, just as your Only Begotten Son was presented on this day in the Temple in the substance of our flesh, so, by your grace, we may be presented to you with minds made pure. Amen (Collect)

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke