First Reading: Mal 3:1-4; Psalm: 24. R. v. 10b; Second Reading: Heb 2:14-18; Gospel: Lk 2:22-40

CHRIST REPRIMANDS TO LIGHT OUR WAY

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

Today is exactly forty days since we celebrated Christmas, the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Traditionally in the Catholic Church, on a day like this, the Church celebrates the Presentation of the Lord in the temple. This celebration commemorates two events: The Lord’s Presentation and the Purification of Mary. The rite of Candle procession (Candlemas) was later added to this celebration to symbolize that Christ the Light of the nations entered his temple to hallow it and to redeem us. This rite takes place at the beginning of the Mass when the Christian faithful makes a candlelight procession from the entrance of the Church.

Exodus 13:1-15 and Numbers 8:15-17 stipulates that every first fruit of all living thing belongs to God. This explains Israel’s the practice of offering their first fruit of the field to God in acknowledgement of his creation and governance of the earth (Ps 24:1). Following their freedom from slavery in Egypt, Israel continued the practice of dedicating every firstborn both human and animal to God in remembrance of God’s mercy who spared them during the last plague of Egypt (Ex 11:4-7; 13:14-15). Christ is the firstborn of the Father, the firstborn of all creation (Col 1:15). His presentation in the temple celebrates God’s saving grace through him prefigured by the blood of the lamb smeared on the doorpost in Egypt.

Leviticus chapter 12 also stipulates that women who had given birth are ritually unclean and must stay away from the temple and the synagogue until a stipulated period of time has passed: forty days for a son, and eighty days for a daughter. Once these days are over, the woman must come to the temple for ritual of purification with a lamb or two turtle doves for those who cannot afford a lamb. In the case of Mary and Joseph, they could only afford the option for the poor. This ritual does not imply any impurity on the part of the spotless virgin. It has to be done in observance of the law.

Simeon and Anna were the high priest and prophetess in the temple who have waited and prayed for a day like this when the salvation promised to Israel would come to fulfilment. When Mary and Joseph brought the Lord to the temple, Simeon recognized and addressed the Lord as “The Light to the Gentile.” This light is symbolically expressed by the candlelight procession observed at the beginning of the Mass that reminds the Christian faithful that Christ brought light and salvation to our lives by his Incarnation.

The feast we celebrate today fulfils the prophecy of the prophet Malachi; “Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple” (Mal 3:1). John the Baptist came to prepare the way for the Lord’s coming. And today, the Lord whom we seek entered his temple and hallowed it. Christ came that “he might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (Heb 2:14-15).

On this feast of the Lord’s presentation, we are reminded that we are consecrated people. Our presentation in the temple after our baptism reminds us of this. And each time we attend the Holy Mass, we should refresh our minds with this truth that we belong to God and are consecrated to him. And as consecrated people, we need to order our lives accordingly.

One very obvious truth about Christ’s mission was that it was a sign of contradiction. Simeon the high priest made this prophecy as the Lord was brought to the temple; “This child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel; and a sign of contradiction” (v. 34). This means that some would accept Christ and some would not. Those who accept Christ shall be saved. And those who reject Christ and his gospel of love would be ruined. As consecrated people we are confronted everyday with the choice to follow the way of Christ or to willfully go our own way. The demands of the gospel contradict our willful intentions. But if we must be saved, we should allow the light of Christ to dispel every selfish and inordinate desire in us.

The candlelight procession we observed at the beginning of this Mass should remind us of the candlelight we received at our baptism. The minister says: “Receive the Light of Christ” while giving this candle to the baptised. And instructs that it be kept burning to keep the flame of faith alive and to meet the Lord when he comes again. May we not allow this light to go out. May this light be kept burning through our works of love. So that when the Lord comes, he will find us ready and worthy of him. Amen.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, Light of the nations, dispel every darkness of sin in us and help us to keep the flame of faith burning till you come again. Amen.