February 2 2025 Presentation in the Temple
Malachi 3.1-4 Psalm 24 Hebrews 2.14-18 Luke 2.22-40
Today is known, in some Christian circles, as Candlemas – which celebrates three occasions – the presentation of the child Jesus; Jesus’ first entry into the temple; and the purification of Mary. Apparently, in some parts of Europe, it is traditional to eat crepes on Candlemas, but, apart from the fact that we are not in Europe, I don’t think we will go that far.
Our Gospel passage shows us the fulfilment of the Mosaic law. According to Leviticus 12, all first born boys are required to be consecrated to God. We don’t really know how old Jesus is here, but he is at least 40 days, because, according to Leviticus 12, women could not be purified before the priest in the Temple for at least that long after childbirth. Mary offers the two turtledoves or pigeons that are required, the child is circumcised, marking him as a member of God’s chosen people, Israel.
We are told Simeon has been waiting for the coming of the Messiah, and it had been promised that he shall not die before he sees him. When he sees Jesus, he rejoices that now he is free to die as God is setting him free, and Israel is free from bondage. And more than that, God is saving not only Israel, but all Gentiles too, God’s salvation is for ‘all peoples’.
But Simeon is doing more than giving thanks for the Messiah and blessing him, he prophesies that Jesus is destined for the death and resurrection of many; he will be opposed and will cause many to think deeply about him. Mary too, will suffer, sharing in the suffering of her Son.
Both Simeon and Ana stand before God; Luke considers men and women to be equal in God’s eyes. Ana praises God and reinforces Simeon’s words about Jesus. And in the same way as Jesus’ presentation mirrors Samuel’s, ‘the favour of the God’ was upon Jesus, as it was on Samuel.
The song sung by Simeon, the Nunc dimittis, is said every time we pray Compline, or Prayer at the end of the Day. In the original Greek, it has the connotation of releasing a slave, and Simeon is expressing his own experience of being released. He starts with a very important ‘Now’, emphasising a profound experience of liberation occurring at that particular moment. I have always seen his words as expressing that he is free to die now that he has seen the Messiah, but a better understanding of it is that he is now ‘released’ to live. As if his life up to that point had been ‘in waiting’, he had been living a ‘holding pattern’ and now he was finally free to truly ‘live’. And I wonder what things in our lives keep us in a ‘holding pattern’, what are we ‘waiting for’ and is that waiting stopping us from truly living. Are we able to be as patient and watchful as Simeon and Ana, can we trust God’s plan, no matter how delayed that plan may be in being fulfilled.
I was interested to read a reflection which turned the presentation round, saying that Simeon understood that it was not him presenting the child Jesus before God, but he himself was being presented. Because the Son was not presented by the servant to His Father, but the servant was presented by the Son to his Lord. Indicating that Jesus, who receives offerings gave himself to be offered by another so that those who presented him, while offering him, might themselves by presented by him. And I wonder what difference this interpretation might make for us in how we see, or understand, this reading. What is it we are ‘waiting’ for, and are we ready to be presented to God as Simeon was.
When Simeon saw the child Jesus, he prophesied that Jesus would be a ‘light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel’. Pope JP2 wrote about these events in the temple, saying that ‘in the mysterious encounter between Simeon and Mary, the Old and New Testaments are joined. Together the aging prophet and the young mother give thanks for the Light which has kept the darkness from prevailing.’ We heard Malachi foretell of this in our first reading. Jesus, the true Light of the world, comes into the temple, the dwelling place of God, to be recognised by those who waited for him.
Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple and presented him, we too are called to present ourselves to God, daily. In everything we do, we present our lives, we offer ourselves to God trusting that God will strengthen us for all that comes our way. Simeon and Ana waited for the Lord with trust and prayer. And we can follow their example and wait on God, knowing that we are not alone, God will never abandon us, no matter what is happening in our lives, we are safe and protected by God, even when the road seems very rocky and uncertain. Or maybe, especially when the road seems very rocky and uncertain. Like Jesus, we are called to be light in the world, with our words and actions showing the world what our faith means to us, so may we bring Christ’s light to all we meet through love, kindness and truth.