

Breaking Open the Word
The Presentation of the Lord

Introduction
Malachi 3:1-4
Psalm 24
Hebrews 2: 14-18
Luke 2:22-40
INTRODUCTION
Christmas kind of feels like it just happened, but it was actually 40 days ago, and so this week we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast is also called the Candlemas as parishes traditionally bless and distribute candles. We pay particular attention to the presentation of Jesus in the temple as it is a moment of celebrating the Old Testament and the New Testament.

Gospel Explained
In the very first verse of the gospel, we see the obedience of Mary and Joseph as they bring Jesus to the temple, fulfilling the prophesy of our first reading from Malachi. Malachi lived around 460BC to 440BC, after the end of the Babylonia exile when the Israelites were returned to their land. The behavior of the Israelites had been infected by pagan influences over the years of the exile so returning them to their land was not sufficient, and Malachi tells them greater stuff is yet to come. The Israelites prayed to return to their land, and they would turn back to God…well, they were returned to their land but they did not turn back to God. God had to again call them to Himself...hence the coming of Jesus.
Under Mosaic Law, after women gave birth to a male child they were required at that 40 day mark, to offer a sacrifice at the Temple. This cleansed them of any impurity – something that should not be confused with moral failures or guilt.
As they enter the Temple, they meet Simeon who is “awaiting the consolation of Israel”, and Anna who also was awaiting the redemption of Israel. This consolation of Israel would have been waiting for the Messiah to deliver the people of Israel from the gentile and pagan control of the Romans. The gospel explains that Simeon was touched by the Holy Spirit and given the understanding that Simeon would not die until he sees the Messiah and welcomes the Messiah as the one who will achieve salvation.
At the moment Simeon takes Jesus into his arms is where we see the intersection of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Jesus was, and is, the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It is at that moment that Simeon’s Nunc Dimittis, translated from Latin as “now dismiss” takes place. What had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit had been fulfilled, so Simeon no longer needs to wait for his death.
Simeon sees the fulfillment of Isaiah 40:5 “Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”, as well as Isaiah 46:13, and Isaiah 52:9-10 which reference the coming of the savior and the celebration that should ensue.
We see in the gospel that Mary and Jospeh were amazed about what Simeon said about Jesus. This has begged the question over the years as to how much Mary understood when Gabriel spoke to her about the birth of Jesus in Luke 1:32-35, where Gabriel explains that Jesus will be the Son of the Most High, have a throne of King David, and rule over the house of Jacob. Alternatively, were Mary and Joseph amazed that someone other than the two of them understood that Jesus was the Messiah? We do not know the answer but it is likely that latter rather than the former.
Not all is sunshine and roses for Mary and Joseph as Simeon reveals to them the pain and sacrifice that is ahead for Mary and Jesus. It was not an actual sword that would pierce Mary, but rather, at the foot of the cross at Calvary, it is the sin of many that will pierce her heart.
The gospel concludes with confirmation that Jesus was presented in the Temple, and Mary had fulfilled the Mosaic Law requirements. Luke then tells us that Jesus, Mary and Joseph returned to Nazareth where He grew up. The language used reflects that Luke likely got this account directly from Mary.

Today's Theme
TODAY’S THEME: CHOICE, OBEDIENCE, AND TRUST
Our lives are filled with choices, that is a great gift we got from God and also the scariest. Each choice we make has a consequence and a responsibility. Regardless of the significance of a choice it always has a consequence; with that consequence comes a responsibility to act on that consequence.
The act of presenting Jesus in the Temple was to be obedient to the Mosaic Law. Mary was not legally impure as the birth of Jesus was not a similar birth as other women experienced, and we teach that Mary remained pure before, during and after the birth of Jesus. Mary and Jospeh were being obedient to the Law for the sake of being obedient.
Simeon and Anna made the choice to open their hearts, minds, and souls to the Holy Spirit. The consequence of that was to build a great desire to see the one who would be the salvation of Israel and all mankind. Simeon and Anna took responsibility for that consequence by taking the action of standing ready at the Temple to welcome the Savior and announce their witness to Mary and Joseph. Simeon and Anna both trusted in God that what they were hearing from the Holy Spirit would in fact come to fruition.
Out of that obedience, Jesus, Mary and Joseph are bringing together the Old and the New Testament. As Simeon and Anna, two older ordinary people who themselves chose to open their hearts, minds, and way of life to the Lord, state to Mary and Joseph – the fulfillment of the Old was beginning at that moment as Jesus embodies the New. With the meeting of the Old and the New, a new and special presence takes place and our salvation begins. Mary and Joseph were obedient to the Mosaic Law because they trusted it was the right thing to do.

Theme in our Life Today
CHOICE, OBEDIENCE AND TRUST IN OUR LIFE TODAY
Obedience is a choice that is made more easily when trust is present. That trust again, is a choice but it resonates from one of two things 1) experience with the person or organization requesting the trust and/or 2) knowledge that the obedience requested will lead to the intended outcome. Trusting does not mean we need to understand everything in which we are called to trust, just that our experience with God and the Church leads us to understand the intended outcome will be achieved through trust and obedience.
It is easy for us to rationalize our way out of believing anything; that becomes more difficult to do when we know the truth because knowing the truth and not following it means we live a lie. The Church sets forth requirements for us to attend Mass at least weekly, get to Confession once a year, and engage Jesus in the Eucharist at least once a year. Those requirements are in place because they lead us to Jesus.
So if truth leads us to trust, and trust is inherent in obedience, and obedience keeps us aligned with the desires of God as we see in several places in the Bible including 1 Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel said: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to the LORD’s command?
Obedience is better than sacrifice, to listen, better than the fat of rams.”, how do we achieve that trust? The answer: 1) Learning our faith; 2) Experiencing the Sacraments; 3) Prayer.
As we see in our reading from Hebrews this week, Jesus humbled Himself out of obedience to the Father’s will “that He might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people.” Jesus wants us to be so very close to Him that He gave us the Sacraments where we can experience His grace. That grace leads to only one place – exactly where God wants us forever…to be happy with Him for eternity.

Prepare for Sunday
TO PREPARE FOR THIS SUNDAY’S LITURGY OF THE WORD:
1. Get online an peruse the encyclicals written by the Popes over the centuries – a great way to learn why the Church teaches what it does, at: https://www.papalencyclicals.net/
2. Consider a teaching of the Church that is confusing to you and read what the Church has to say about it in the Catechism: https://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/what-we-believe/catechism/catechism-of-the-catholic-church
3. Reflect on your life and what you may be doing that is not aligned with Church teachings.
4. Get to Reconciliation, and take with you someone you love!