Friday, 2 February 2024. Read Malachi 3:1-4, Ps. 24:7-10, Luke 2:22-40
“As it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’, and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” (Luke 2:23-24)
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the temple. We recall that day that Mary and Joseph took the baby Jesus to the temple according to the law. What lessons do we learn from this encounter?
1. Be humble - No one is above the law: Mary and Joseph brought the baby Jesus to the temple to do what the law prescribed. They knew that Jesus is God, yet they obeyed the law, presenting God to God. In other words, they knew there was no need to bring the baby Jesus to the temple, but in humility (not wanting to appear like the special ones in their community), they followed the law. This was the same attitude of Jesus when he presented himself to John the Baptist for baptism. John the Baptist protested, but Jesus insisted. “Let it be done to fulfil all righteousness.”
Throughout his public ministry, whenever Jesus cured the sick, he also insisted that they follow the laid-down procedure in Jewish law. We live in a country where people feel that since they are wealthy, powerful or influential, the laws of the land no longer apply to them. We must learn from Mary and Joseph to follow due process. Don’t get carried away with pride; the higher you go, the humbler you should be.
2. God Still Speaks in Our World: While Mary and Joseph were trying to appear like every other regular couple, the Holy Spirit revealed the divine identity of Jesus to Simeon. God promised him that he would not die before seeing the long-awaited Messiah. How did Simon know Jesus’s true identity? In the same way, who told Anna about Jesus? This shows us that God still speaks in our world. The question is: “How prepared am I to receive Divine inspiration?”
3. Be Courageous to Speak the Truth: Simeon did not hide the unpleasant truth about Jesus from Mary. Prophecy is not telling people what they like to hear (or predicting the future); it is telling the truth. Simeon’s words affirm those of Malachi (in today’s first reading): “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” Jesus was not born to maintain the status quo; He came to shake things up – to purify us from sin. In Luke 12:49, Jesus declared: “I came to bring fire to the earth….”
4. Spend More Time with God: Anna, the prophetess, spent all her time in the temple praying and fasting. This shows that the more we encounter God in daily prayer, the more God reveals Himself to us. Never neglect your daily prayer. Never rush prayer. To know God, you must spend more time in his presence.
5. Proper Upbringing of Children Begins with presenting them to God. “When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and God's favour was upon him.” (Luke 2:39-40). If we want our children to grow strong and wise, we must present them to God. Never neglect to bring your children to church. Let them attend catechism classes. Let them be at Sunday School. Do not assume that your children will get to know God or make the right choices in life on their own. The book of Proverbs says: “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” (Proverbs 22:6)
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, I present my entire household to you today, free me from all inclinations to evil. Through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (The Presentation of the Lord - Feast. Bible Study: Malachi 3:1-4, Ps. 24:7-10, Luke 2:22-40).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu
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