Presentation of Child Jesus.

Joyful mysteries.

Presentation of child Jesus.

Points for meditation.

1. Mary and Joseph took  Infant Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem  forty days  after his birth.

It is to complete Mary's ritual of purification after childbirth,

and to perform the redemption of the firstborn son,

in obedience to the Torah (Leviticus 12, Exodus 13:12–15, etc.).

2. Joseph and Mary take the option provided for poor people.
"a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons."

The Child in their hands is the Creator of the universe and they knew it.

But they did not make any outward show of it and opted to be poor and so chose a gift meant to be offered by the poor.

But we, who call ourselves followers of Jesus, ...........!

 3.  Simeon, who had been promised that "he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ" (Luke 2:26),  came to     the temple when the Holy Family came there for the purification of Our Lady and presentation of Jesus.

4.  "He now came, led by the Spirit, into the temple.''

Simeon came to the temple  'led by the spirit'.

It was the Holy Spirit who made Simeon come into the temple.

Holy Spirit is always active in our life and whatever happens in our life happens according to His will.

5.  Simeon prophecies:  Jesus will be a sign of contradiction,  He will not only bring peace but also discard.

Later during His preaching Jesus Himself said, "Do you think that I have come to bring peace on the earth? No, believe me, I have come to bring dissension."

Only those who accept Jesus in their life will enjoy peace.

But there will be also  people who will not live according to His precepts.

To which group do we belong? Let us meditate.

6. Simeon also said,  "This is the light which shall give revelation to the Gentiles, this is the glory of thy people Israel."

The word Gentiles referred to  all nations except the Jews. 

So Simeon said that Jesus was born for all people, Jewish and non-jewish, in short, for the whole human race.

Jesus was born not only for us Christians, but also for those who are outside our fold.

It is our duty to bring them into our fold, this is what we call     'Evangelization'.

'Evangelization' is a duty meant for all the faithful.

7. Simeon prophecies that  a sword would pierce her heart.

He referred to the sorrows Our Mother would meet with during her
redemptive journey with her son.

Right from the beginning Our Mother knew that  Her Son was born to sacrifice Himself for us.

She brought Him up as a sacrificial Lamb.

She was with Him in His way of the Cross: during His carrying His cross it, His crucifixion, His death and His burial.

Just imagine the sorrow her mind would have been filled with.

Just look at her weeping face, with tears flowing from her loving eyes.

All for us, our sins.

Let us not wipe the tears flowing from our eyes.

8. The elderly prophetess Anna was also in the Temple.

She too, at that very hour, came near to give God thanks, and spoke of the child to all that patiently waited for the deliverance of Israel.  (Luke 2:38).

9. Jesus is fully God and fully man.

As God, He is not subject to human practices.

But as man he volunterrly  subjected Himself to jewish practices.

His presentation itself was according to Mosaic law.

Jesus went to synagogue.

He went to the Temple.

He upheld the Law and the commandments.

He affirmed the value of Scripture.

"what’s more, He condemned any intent to modify what was written.
Believe me, heaven and earth must disappear sooner than one jot, one flourish should disappear from the law; it must all be accomplished.  Whoever, then, sets aside one of these commandments, though it were the least, and teaches men to do the like, will be of least account in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches others to keep them will be accounted in the kingdom of heaven as the greatest."
(Mt. 5:18-19).

When sinners were baptised by St. John, Jesus, who had no need for baptism, asked John to baptise Him.

John was reluctant first, but as Jesus insisted, baptised Him.

Jews followed the Old Testament.

Jesus is the God of both the Old and New Testaments.

10. Dearest Jesus,

Just as You were presented to Your Holy Father,

We offer ourselves to you whole heartedly to be led as per Your will.

Accept us. Amen.

Lourdu Selvam.