Saturday, February
2, 2002
Presentation of the Lord
1st
Reading: Mal 3:1-4
2nd Reading: Heb 2:14-18
Gospel: Lk 2:22-32
When the day came for the purification according to the law of Moses,
they brought the baby up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, as it
is written in the law of the Lord: Every firstborn male shall be consecrated
to God. And they offered a sacrifice as ordered in the law of the Lord:
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.
There
lived in Jerusalem at this time a very upright and devout man named Simeon;
the Holy Spirit was in him. He looked forward to the time when the Lord
would comfort Israel, and he had been assured by the Holy Spirit that
he would not die before seeing the Messiah of the Lord. So he was led
into the Temple by the Holy Spirit at the time the parents brought the
child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law.
Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed God, saying, "Now,
O Lord, you can dismiss your servant in peace, for you have fulfilled
your word and my eyes have seen your salvation, which you display for
all the people to see. Here is the light you will reveal to the nations
and the glory of your people Israel."
Commentary
It is very significant that those who come close to Mary and Joseph and
have a deep insight about the mission of this child are old people. The
wisdom granted to those in old age proclaims the wonders that God makes
for those who hope for the liberation of the people. What are we doing
with our old people, with so much wisdom that they have? This is particularly
worth pondering in our society where youth is overestimated, and where
productivity and consumerism are the major concerns. When old age is not
only lack of physical strength, but accumulation of wisdom and interior
freedom, old people are not only apt to lead communities but also to initiate
and support great renewal in the society and the Church, like Popes John
XXIII and John Paul II did.