Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord – February 2, 2020.

Readings Mal. 3:1-4; Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:7.8.9.10.(R.10bc);

 Heb. 2:14-18 &Gospel Lk. 2:22-40.

Theme: Being Present Before the Lord

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, I welcome you to the solemnity of the Presentation of the Lord. Today’s celebration urges us to reflect on the redemption (dedication) of Jesus and the purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary after giving birth to her son in line with Jewish culture – a custom that most cultures have adopted for women after safe delivery. Although they had no need of redemption or purification, the example both Jesus and his mother sets the tone for our reflection titled: “Being Present Before the Lord.” 

Background and Summary of the Readings

In the first reading (Mal. 3:1-4), the Prophet Malachi projects that the Lord would send his messenger to prepare a way for him as he finally enters his temple. He notes that the Angle of the Covenant is a purifier who would purify the Sons of Levi to offer him acceptable sacrifices even as the oblation of Judah is welcomed.   

The writer of the letter to the Hebrews (Heb. 2:14-18) reveals that as a compassionate and humble saviour, Christ shares equality with us to liberate us from the power of evil, fear and death. Since he is one like us in all things but sin, the reading maintains that he did that to atone for our sins and offer us salvation.    

The gospel (Lk. 2:22-40) presents us with the story of how the parents of Jesus took him to the Temple, (not Synagogue) to consecrate him to God as it is written in the Law of the Lord that: Every first born male must be consecrated to the Lord. The text disclosed that they took with them a pair of turtle doves and two young pigeons. Just then, moved by the Holy Spirit, Simeon, an upright man who looked forward to the consolation of Israel took the child in his arms and described him as the light of the gentiles and glory of Israel.

He also revealed that the child is destined for the fall and the rising of many in Israel and a sign that is rejected and a sword will pierce his (Jesus) mother’s heart so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare. Luke assures that Mary bore everything in heart. On her part, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, who was married for 7 years before her husband died and for 84 years has been in temple praying and fasting, spoke about him to all who looked forward to the redemption of Israel. After everything had been done, the child went with them to Nazareth and grew in maturity and wisdom as God’s favour was upon him. This brings us to the typology of “Presentation of the Lord in the Temple” in contemporary times:

Typology and Types of Presentation

Baptism: The first time we are “Presented in the Temple” is during the administration of the sacrament of baptism and the traditional child-dedication which follows in some dioceses. Little wonder, baptism which washes away original son, makes us children of God and members of the Church, is the first sacrament of Christian initiation which opens the way to other sacraments as well as our first place of encounter with God either as children or adults.

Holy Communion: The second time we are presented before the Lord is during the reception of First Holy Communion after we have been taught how to go for sacramental confession – here, we are spiritually disposed to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, the food of angels and food for heaven while calling God our Father during the Eucharistic sacrifice.

Confirmation: The third place we are presented before God is during confirmation. Through the Holy Oil of Chrism, we are empowered (in our youthfulness) to become soldiers of Christ so as to proclaim him without fear or favour. 

Holy Orders/Religious Profession: For priests and religious, answering the call of God to serve him in the priesthood or religious life becomes the fourth time they dedicate themselves through Sacred Ordination or perpetual vows (the example of Simeon and Anna suffices here). Through this, they dedicate their lives for fulltime ministry.

Holy Matrimony: For married couples, the fourth time they dedicate themselves to God is during the administration of the sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Here, they exchange their consent before God and his Church to be there for each other until death do them part. 

Pastoral and Practical Lessons

1. Move to the Next Level: By presentation the Child Jesus in the Temple instead of a Synagogue, Mary and Jesus challenge us to move from our supposed level of comfort to the next level of spiritual heights as indicated in the first reading which indicates that the Lord would finally enter into his temple.

2. Catch them Young Christ: By presenting Jesus in the temple, Jesus’ parents have set an example for parents to take up the noble task of being what Lumen Gentium No 11 calls first heralds of the gospel to their children in the Domestic Church through ensuring that their kids get religious education.

3. Prepare them for Life: Besides providing children with religious and civic education, it is crucial for parents to teach their kids how to survive independently by not preparing the road for them but preparing the kids for the road of life bearing in mind that there four types of intelligence in kids:

 (a) Intelligence Quotient (IQ): The ability to solve mathematics, memorize things and recall subject matters;

(b). Emotional Quotient (EQ): The ability to be at peace with others, keep to time, be responsible, honest, respectful, humble, genuine, considerate and maintain boundaries;

(c) Social Quotient (SQ): The ability to build a network of friends and keep them for a long time; (d) Adversity Quotient (AQ): The ability survive difficulty and go through a rough patch in life and come out strong without losing one’s mind – this determines who will abandon their family or consider suicide in the face of difficulty.

4. Fulfil the Requirements of the Church: By fulfilling the Jewish law that every first-born belonged to God (Ex. 13:1-2) and must be redeemed or brought back with five shekels (Num. 18:15-16), Jesus, Mary and Joseph challenge us to embrace humility and obedience as the second reading suggests through fulfilling the requirements of the law in our parishes such as contracting marriage in a Catholic way, fulfilling our financial obligations in Church (redeeming your pledges), reconciling with the Church et al. 

5. Embrace Poverty of the Spirit: By offering a pair of turtle doves and two pigeons, Mary and Joseph teach us that Jesus came to identify with the “anawims,” the poorest of the poor which further challenges us to copy his humility because although he was in the form of God, Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped (Phil. 2:6).

6. Wait on the Lord: Simeon waited on the Lord and he saw Israel’s consolation while Anna its redemption – as such, we are reminded that those who wait on the Lord in terms of hunger, unemployment, delay in admission, childlessness, lack of promotion and illness or near death-experience shall mount on eagles wings (Is. 40:31).

7. Fast and Pray: In the life of Simeon and Anna, the Church presents us with prayer and fasting as the oldest weapons of fighting the devil.

8.  Be Consecrated: By holding endless vigil in the temple, Simeon and Anna urge religious men and women to dedicate themselves to the priestly and religious life and indeed all of us to be consecrated and dedicated to God.

Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1. The Prophet projects that the Lord would send his messenger to prepare a way for him as he finally enters his temple.

2. As a compassionate and humble saviour, Christ shares equality with us to liberate us.

3. The gospel presents us with how the parents of Jesus took him to the Temple, (not Synagogue) to consecrate him to God.

4. “The child is destined for the fall and the rising of many in Israel…”

5. Luke assures that Mary bore everything in heart.

Conclusion

In conclusion, as Baptised and Communion-receiving Catholics, whether we are lay people or priests and religious, we are challenged “to always be present to the Lord.” This way, he can use us for his kind purposes. Since Jesus is revealed as “the Light of the Gentiles,” it shows that we matter – that is why Jesus came to identify with us in our weakness. As such, we are called to embrace humility and obedience to God’s laws and those of his Church as exemplified Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The saying goes: “God is presently present to present presence to those who are presently present in his presence.” Are you ready to present yourself to him? May the Holy Spirit us in fulfilling our due to God. Amen. Have a blessed week.