Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The weather patterns recently in southwest Ohio have been particularly gloomy. A barrage of cold, rain, and clouds, the shroud of darkness can easily drive us to despair. We long for the light, some sunshine, rays of hope and joy. Today, we celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the temple. The beautiful tradition is honored by Mary and Joseph and fulfills both the Jewish law and the great prophecy in the first reading from Malachi. This truly is a cause for great rejoicing and that is exactly what Simeon and Anna do when they meet the child Jesus on this day.
“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:
a light to reveal you to the nations,
and glory for your people Israel.” (Luke 2:29-32)
Like Simeon and Anna before us, may we be a people of hope, proclaiming the good news of Jesus to the nations. Jesus is the conqueror of sin and death; “since the children share in blood and flesh, Jesus likewise shared in them, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death–the Devil” (Heb 2:14). We certainly have a need for someone to share in our struggles with sin and darkness. When we observe the pain and suffering in our world, in our community, in our neighbors, and in ourselves, might we be drawn to the need for a refiner’s fire. Our readings today announce the advent of the Lord, the one who is and has come to make all things right, to bring redemption to a suffering people.
“For he is like a refiner’s fire, or like fuller’s lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord.” (Mal 3:2b-3) The purpose of the refiner’s fire is not to destroy the silver or gold but to purify it, to bring out its beauty. Similarly, soap is not meant to destroy but to cleanse; to restore beauty. Christ has come to his people to set us free, freedom from our vices, and a fulfillment of the love of God. Jesus is coming to purify and refine our hearts, our lives. Blessed William Joseph Chaminade said that “the essential is the interior”. In this new year, have we made time to prepare our hearts for the relationship with our Lord? Are we fit to be a dwelling place for God? “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16) God has come into our dysfunction to refine and purify us, to bring out our beauty, to prepare us to go out to the nations in the glory of the Lord. What great love and mercy! Our good and gracious God does not come to destroy us but to burn away the impurities in us and cleanse our hearts. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17).
Peace,
Brandon Meyer