Cycle A - Year II:  

2 February 2014: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

(Liturgical color: White)

Luke 2:22-40

God's will be done!

We  interrupt our liturgical observance of Ordinary Time to celebrate another solemnity in the life of our Lord.

Forty days after the joyful event of the Nativity of the Lord, this Sunday is the blessed day when the infant Jesus was presented in the Temple by his human parents. Being devout Jews, Mary and Joseph obeyed the Law of the Lord. They came to the Temple in obedience to the Law to present Jesus to the Lord and offer a sacrifice according to what was written in the Law.

St, Luke wrote that to witness this important event in our Lord's life, a devout man in Jerusalem by the name of Simeon, and a prophetess named Anna came to the Temple prompted by the Holy Spirit. They recognized the baby Jesus as the Lord and confessed Him with exultation.

As we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, let us reflect on the attitude of Mary and Joseph as this event unfolds in their lives.

Although they have the singular privilege of being chosen as the human parents of the Son of the almighty God, Mary and Joseph remained humble and obedient to the will of the Father.

We can appreciate the humble obedience of the Holy Family in adhering to the prescripts of the Law, even though Jesus had no real reason to be presented in the Temple insofar as it was the Lord Himself being presented to the Father. 

Yet, it is example such as this that helps us to see why Mary and Joseph were chosen to take care of the Son of God as an infant. It is because of their obedience to God's will. They both had a heart that was set upon the will of God, and not their own interests and desires. It is because of her deeper "Yes" to God that Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary and became man. 

In practical life, there is the temptation to question God when we do not understand what's going on with our life. Some even dare to openly oppose God's word handed down through the teaching of his Church when they run counter to their personal desires and inclinations. It seems that humility and obedience to God have become "old fashion" as we dream to be demigods ourselves. It's the worst form of corruption of the human soul.

The Presentation of the Lord is the fourth Joyful mystery of the Holy Rosary. The next time we say the rosary and reflect on this particular mystery, let us think about Mary and Joseph's obedience to God, and the importance of obedience to God.

Let us also pray to the Holy Spirit that, like Simeon and Anna, we recognize Jesus as He presents Himself in the breaking of bread in the Holy Eucharist at Mass.

A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!