FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD - 2021

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

The light to enlighten the Gentiles

and give glory to Israel, your people. LK2:32

MALACHI 3:1-4 

My Soul's Beloved,

How wonderfully blessed we are to live in this age of the revelation of the Good News. Patriarchs and prophets longed for the day of the coming of the Messiah and when You did come, Your own rejected You. It was only the poor shepherds who were counted as nothing and the wise men who were outsiders that believed and came to worship You.

This prophecy of the prophet Malachi is mystifying unless it is seen in the light of the New Testament how John the Baptist fulfills it, 'The Lord God says this: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me.' 

Today the Church celebrates Your Presentation to God in the Temple of Jerusalem, foreseeing this event 400 years before it occurred, the prophet says, 'And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his Temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of Hosts.'

This first coming has already taken place we now await Your second coming in glory. The time between Your Ascencion and Your return is given to us to prepare for the Day of the Lord. Now is the time of our deliverance, now is the time to walk in the way of perfection, holiness, truth, and love. For when You return it will be not as Savior and Redeemer but as the just judge of both the living and the dead.  

This part of the prophecy warns us what it will be like when that day of reckoning dawns: 'Who will be able to resist the day of his coming? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire and the fullers’ alkali. He will take his seat as refiner and purifier; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and then they will make the offering to the Lord as it should be made.' 

What is this offering that will be pleasing and acceptable to God? It is the final victory of the Lamb of God who was slain for the sins of the world. You will offer to the Father a world that is completely under Your dominion, Lordship, authority, and power. And the redeemed will rejoice at the Wedding of the Bridegroom and His Bride and we will feast at the Banquet Table eternally. 

PSALM 24:7-10

My Beloved, Soul of my soul,

You came into the world wrapped in flesh, in the womb of the Virgin, small, helpless. To You, to whom all riches and power belong, came to us and for us in poverty. The mysterious paradox of God's love for us is this - You who are almighty became one with humanity in order to experience and share in our poverty, frailty, and weakness. You came to graft us to Your Body so we might receive life from You and become like You.

You are the King of glory enthroned in heaven and to whom the earth is but a footstool, and yet for a while, You stooped lower than the angels before all things were made subject to You. 

Now, raised high above all, You are seated in glory at the right hand of the Father. After entering into our death we can now receive new life in You. We have a powerful intercessor with the Father who pleads for us night and day. You vanquished the Enemy and someday, when time will be no more, we will share in Your triumph and victory. Thank You for this wonderful hope we have in You.  

LUKE 2:22-40 

My Soul's Beloved,

St. Luke tells us that according to the Law, 'Every first-born male must be consecrated to the Lord – and also to offer in sacrifice, in accordance with what is said in the Law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.' Mary was fully aware that she was not obliged to offer the sacrifice for purification since her Child was the Son of God, and she herself was sinless for You were conceived in her by the power of the Holy Spirit. She, however, teaches us that humility and obedience are far more pleasing to God than any sacrifice we make to Him. 

Another important lesson we learn is the rich reward granted to a life lived out in faith, hope, and trust in God's promises, as we see in the lives of Simeon and Anna. When we do, the Holy Spirit guides us to all truth. In this particular instance, Simeon, led by the Holy Spirit, was granted the grace to hold God in his arms. He gazed on Truth incarnate and rejoiced in the fulfilment of God's promise as he proclaims,

‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,
just as you promised;
because my eyes have seen the salvation
which you have prepared for all the nations to see,
a light to enlighten the pagans
and the glory of your people Israel.’

Both Mary and Joseph were wonderstruck at his words. Then Simeon, addressing Your Mother directly prophecies saying, 
‘You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.’

In our lifetime each one of us will be given the opportunity to stand for or against You - those who receive You will be saved, those who reject You will condemn themselves.

Anna of Asher is another example of faithful life lived in humility and faith. Widowed after only seven years of marriage, she is now eighty-four years old and has spent her whole life in the Temple in prayer, in fasting, and in the service of God. She teaches us how to cling less to the things of the world and to attach ourselves to the things of heaven. She too was granted the wonderful gift of meeting the Messiah and she spent the rest of her life evangelizing to all who looked forward to Your coming.

After fulfilling all things as the Law of the Lord required, the Lord of the Law was taken back to Nazareth in Galilee to grow to maturity as the Son of Man but who as the Son of God was filled with wisdom and God's favour from all eternity.