Happy Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Recently, I attended a celebration with the Hispanic community celebrating this joyful occasion. My Spanish is not very good, but I could understand bits and pieces about a few things they shared. But by making the celebration a large one with music, food and dancing, you could tell right away that the Feast of the Lord is a special occasion to them.
Why is the Feast of Presentation of the Lord a significant celebration. Because it is now 40 days after Christmas.
There are two biblical reasons for the Presentation of the Lord. The Gospel account brings us to the event of Joseph and Mary bring Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem. At the temple, they encountered two important persons. One is Simeon, who couldn't die until he saw the Christ. Second is Anna, a prophetess, who after a short married life, spent most of her time praying in the Temple of Jerusalem.
The two reasons for the Presentation are these:
- It is the redemption of the first born.
- It is the purification of the Mother.
According to the Book of Exodus 13, the first-born son belongs to the Lord. In other words, the first-born is to be given and dedicated to the service of God at the temple. It's kind of like Hanna in the Old Testament offering her son, Samuel, to serve within the temple precincts under the direction of Eli.
In order to redeem their child, couples could offer 5 shekels, or offer a lamb. If a couple could not afford it, they could offer two turtledoves or two young pigeons. For me, it's sort of like buying the child back. (This custom doesn't make too much sense for us today. I'll have to do some more research).
The second reason for the presentation of the Lord, is the purification of the Mother. Many Jewish laws focus on purification and cleansing. It's because there were many things that may render a person unclean. And if you touch someone that was unclean, you will also be rendered unclean. You may say that the Jewish customs and traditions were obsessed with rituals of cleansing and purification. But what about our society? We have forms of cleansing and purification as well. For example, many use antibacterial ointments or wipes. Employees are required to wash their hands after using the restroom. We are taught not to drink from the same cup, or use combs that others use. If you go to a hospital with someone who is seriously ill, you may have to wear a gown to protect the patient and yourself. In some ways, our society is not as different than theirs.
The Jewish people believed that after giving birth, the Mother is rendered unclean. Therefore, she would need to undergo a purification process.
Certainly, the Blessed Mother did not need the purification because she is the Immaculate Conception. Nevertheless, she went ahead and practiced the Jewish custom. She and St. Joseph brought the child to the temple, in accordance to the law.
For the child Jesus, this would be the first of many visits to the Temple of Jerusalem. For biblical scholars, this visit to the Temple may not be just a visit without a deeper purpose and meaning. What is the deeper meaning to this particular celebration?
Let's go back to the two points made earlier: redemption and purification.
In regards to redemption, Jesus will redeem, not only Israel, but also the Gentiles. Jesus will become the consolation of Israel. Through his sacrifice, he will redeem Israel. He will become the consolation of Israel. Simeon and Anna gives witness to this, and shares to others about Jesus as the consolation of Israel.
In regards to purification, Jesus will also bring about change. He will cleanse and purify the temple and the priesthood. He will change the way things are normally done in Israel.
Remember the event when Jesus was at the Temple, and he noticed that there were moneychangers and people buying and selling animals. The Temple was becoming a marketplace. So Jesus overturn tables of the money changers. He said: “My Father's house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a marketplace, or a den of thieves.” This may have made many people unhappy because these operations were their livelihood.
Jesus also said that if the Temple is destroyed, he will build it back in three days. Jesus was not talking about the structure of the Temple, but his own body. He was speaking about his own resurrection. The Temple, for the Jewish people, was God's dwelling place. God is now most visible in his beloved Son, Jesus the Christ. This new teaching, although not accepted by all, but will definitely change worship and prayer of the time.
To add towards the theme of purification, Jesus also changes the perception of feast days such as the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. The Feast of Tabernacles was a time to recall the events of Israel's transition into the promised land, while dwelling in tents or booths. Normally, there was a ritual of water cleansing used within the Temple. On this particular Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus declared: “Let anyone who thirsts come to me and drink.” (John 7:37). Instead of coming towards the Temple for the water ritual, the people could now go to Jesus, as the living water and the fountain of life.
Similarly, on the Feast of Tabernacles, there was a ritual of lighting the Menorah candle. But on this Feast, Jesus declared: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus becomes the light for all peoples, both Jews and Gentiles. He is the light that guides us out of darkness, and towards God the Father.
On this feast day of the Presentation, let us be grateful and assured of our own redemption and purification in Christ Jesus. God Bless you!
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