Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Gospel (Luke 2:22-40) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel.” (Lk 2:34)

FIRST READING - Malachi 3:1-4

First reading from the Book of Malachi

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.

SECOND READING from the Letter to the 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.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Luke 2:22-40

From the Gospel according to Luke

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.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Gospel (Luke 2:22-40)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today's Word of God tells all humanity about the plan of Jesus Christ when He lived on this earth.

Although Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He still obeys the laws and customs of man. When the child reached the age of being presented to the Temple according to the law, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph brought the child Jesus to the Temple to be baptized, presenting the child Jesus to God. The presentation of the Child here means that: whatever God gives to people: whether it is being born or still living in this world, is to first, run to God to thank Him. This is a custom of man blessed by God because the Son of God was born in this world, and also integrated and practiced that law.

God in addition let mankind know: that when the Son of God was presented in the Temple, it was also the time when God revealed to mankind God is the Supreme Being. He came to the world to accompany and save, and heal all mankind. He is the Messiah, the One who has to be born into the world to save mankind.

This image was shown through the praise and thanksgiving to God of the old prophets Simeon and Anna; because they saw with their own eyes the Son of the Supreme God, He came down to earth as a human; He is the One that Simeon and Anna, as well as all mankind, are waiting day and night for the Son of God to come down to earth as a human, to help mankind escape from the captivity of Satan. There is no happiness comparable to seeing the Son of God! This is the greatest happiness which God bestowed upon humanity, especially upon the elderly Simeon and Anna; because when they saw and held the Child Jesus in their arms, it was happiness for humans, it was full of happiness for those who day and night longed and waited for the Savior to come to the world. With overflowing happiness, the prophet Simeon offered words of praise and thanksgiving to God for loving humanity.

Indeed, happiness for whomever has seen God right here on earth! Yet even greater happiness for people in today's world is receiving the Son of God Himself in their hearts through the Sacrament of the Eucharist. There is nothing happier than having God in their hearts every second, every minute. Therefore, God, too, invites everyone: to thank God for the love with which He sacrificed and died to redeem humanity, to become small bread through which people may fully receive the Son of the Supreme God. Through this, God invites people:

-To always know how to live in a spirit of gratitude, praise God's love, and live holy, pure, and bright, so that God always resides in our hearts.

-Do not push God away from ourselves; those are the times when we commit sins; the times when we do not please God, such as worshiping materialistic things, worshiping Satan, worshiping things of this world; then at that time, we do not make room in our hearts for God to reside. Run to God if a person's soul contains those materials and open your heart to ask Him to cleanse, to erase all your sins from your heart so that your soul is clean to receive the Son of God in the Eucharist every day, and to let God reside in your heart. From there, God will give you happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven; humans will no longer suffer, be imprisoned, and die in the darkness brought by Satan; instead, they will enjoy happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven, being enveloped in both soul and body by God's love and mercy.

-Walk in the grace and love of God; abandon sinful lifestyles; long for, desire God, and open your heart, open your soul to invite the Son of God to come into your heart, that is Jesus Christ who sacrificed Himself, died, was resurrected, and is present in the Eucharist to be with us until the end of the world.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

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