Cycle A - Year II:  

2 February 2020: Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

(Liturgical Color: White)

Readings:

First Reading:        Malachi 3:1-4

Second Reading:   Hebrews 2:14-18

Gospel:  Please Read  Luke 2:22-32

"Humble obedience to God's will!"

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

Forty days after the joyful event of the Lord's Nativity, this Sunday is the blessed day when the infant Jesus was presented in the Temple by His human parents.  Because they were devout Jews, Mary and Joseph obeyed the Law of Moses by bringing their firstborn Son to the Temple of Jerusalem as an act of consecration to the Lord.

The liturgy for this Sunday:  The Mass starts with the rite of the blessing of candles at a smaller church or other suitable place other than inside the main church.  At the blessing of candles, the priest may wear a white chasuble or a white cope.  The faithful hold in their hands candles which they light at the beginning of the rite.

As the procession enters the main church, the Entrance Song is sung, after which the usual opening rite of the Mass is omitted and the "Gloria" is sung immediately when the priest reaches the altar and the collect of the day follows.  Then the Mass proceeds in the usual way.

The Gospel:  St. Luke wrote that this important event in our Lord's life is witnessed by a devout man in Jerusalem by the name of Simeon, and  a prophetess named Anna who came to the Temple prompted by the Holy Spirit.  When Mary and Joseph and the infant Jesus arrived in the Temple, they recognized the baby Jesus as the Lord and confessed Him with exultation.

Let us reflect on the attitude of Mary and Joseph as this important event of the Presentation of the Lord unfold 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.  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.  And it is because of her deeper "Yes" to God that Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary and became man.

In our practical lives today, 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 teachings of His Church when these teachings 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..  But then, this is the worst form of corruption of the human soul.

For those regularly praying the Holy Rosary, the Presentation of the Lord is the fourth Joyful mystery.  So then the next time we say our Rosary  and reflect on this particular mystery of the Presentation of the Lord, let us think about Mary and Joseph's obedience to God, and the importance of our own obedience to God.

Finally, let us pray to the Holy Spirit that, like Simeon and Anna, we recognize our Lord Jesus Christ as He presents Himself in the breaking of bread in the Holy Eucharist at Mass.

A blessed Feast of the Lord's Presentation to us all.  And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!