THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD:
Scripture: “When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of
Moses, they took Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord.” – Luke 2:22
Catechism of the Catholic Church: “The Presentation of Jesus in the temple shows Him
to be the firstborn Son Who belongs to the Lord. With Simeon and Anna, all Israel awaits
its encounter with the Savior…Jesus is recognized as the long-expected Messiah, the Light
to the nations: and the Glory of Israel.” CCC #529
Brothers and sisters, the Gospel reading last weekend opened with the Holy Family faithfully honoring the law concerning
childbirth which was proscribed by God from the days of the Exodus from Egypt: “The firstborn of your sons you must ransom.”
And, it is important to note, that there are similarities that the Law of Consecration shares with the Eucharist; for instance,
remembering a sacred event of the past.
Like the Presentation, the Eucharist also honors a sacred event of the past, which we celebrate at every Mass – “Eat of it, for this is
My Body…this is the Chalice of My Blood.” And then, at the Words of Institution – the Epiclesis – we call down the Holy Spirit –
and are actually asking, “What you have done to these gifts, please do to us.”
As such, an offering of ourselves is also on the altar. Brothers and sisters, we become what we receive. It is not enough to be a
Christian; we are called to be another Christ – to image the Image. In receiving communion, we are asking, praying to be
transformed.
Which in turn, brings us to the most basic, fundamental question: “How do we present Jesus?” How do we present Jesus to others?
Are we loving, are we patient, are we kind? Do we lift others up who have been suffering in despair or anguish? Are we willing to
forego our own comfort – even just a miniscule amount – in order that someone else may be comforted?
How do we present Jesus to others? This question ties in nicely to last week’s bulletin article on practicing our faith in the world
after exiting the church doors. When people see us going about our daily lives, would they be able to tell if we are disciples of Jesus
– true disciples that faithfully follow his commandment to love; loving all without conditions? After interacting with us, will others
be able to pray the prayer of Simeon:
Now, Master, You may let Your servant go
In peace, according to Your word,
For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
Which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples.
If so, this is what imaging the Image of the invisible God looks like. We are acting as Christ would have us do. How do we present
Jesus to others? Let us have faith that the Holy Spirit will show us how. For now, let us honor the past, while we look to our future
glory, “Lord Jesus, allow me to be of service to You, for the unfathomable service You did for me.”
“If we are not to lie when we call ourselves Christians,
We must bear witness to it by our way of living.”
-St. Gregory of Nyssa