The Feast of The Presentation of the Lord commemorates Jesus being presented to God in the Jerusalem temple. Jewish law required the firstborn son to be presented to the Lord in the temple (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”- Luke 2:23). It was also an occasion of ritual purification of the mother.
This is thus a combined feast, also known as the Feast of the Purification of Mary or the Feast of Encounter.St.Luke records the incident in the second chapter of the gospel; Mary and Joseph submit themselves to the law and, like any other Jewish parents, bring Christ to the Father in obedience to God. Simeon, “righteous and devout,” recognizes Jesus as the Lord’s anointed one and in divine wisdom, prophesies that Jesus is meant to be “glory to Israel” and “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:23). The prophet Anna also praises the Lord and speaks about the child ” to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38).
The Feast of Presentation reminds us of the humility of the Holy Family, and the glory revealed to the nations through this profound manifestation of their humility. St. John Paul II writes: “God enters the temple not as a powerful ruler but as a little child in his mother’s arms. The King of glory comes not with a show of human force and power, not with great fanfare and noise, not causing fright and destruction. He comes into the temple as he came into the world, as an infant in silence, in poverty, and the company of the poor and the wise.”
This day is observed by the Catholic Church as World Day for Consecrated Life, reflecting on the gift of consecrated life, praying for the self-emptying and sacrificial love of Infant Jesus to lead all consecrated men and women to dedicate their lives in the service of Crucified Christ.
O God, source and origin of all light, who showed the just man Simeon the Light for revelation to the Gentiles, sanctify us with Your blessing to tread the path of virtue and reach You, the eternal light which never fails.
Domi Dasan