We are called to become light for all peoples

by May Tam
2020-02-02
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Malachi 3:1-4


Hebrews 2:14-18


Luke 2:22-40


Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord in the Temple. It is also known as Candlemas since traditionally, blessings and procession of candles are included in the liturgy to signify that Christ is the light of all nations. It is another “epiphany” celebration as it echoes the Solemnity of Christmas when the Messiah was first revealed to the shepherds and the magi. Today the Christ child is once again revealed, but to two simple and elderly people. This time, unlike the angels' message of joy, their words and testimony are a prelude to Calvary of a suffering Messiah.

In 1997, St John Paul II instituted the World Day for Consecrated Life to be celebrated on the same day of the Feast of the Presentation. In his homily on Sunday, February 2, 1997, during the Mass he celebrated at St. Peter’s Basilica, the Pope pointed out three basic elements which are reflected in today's Gospel reading, namely, the mystery of the coming, the reality of the meeting and the proclamation of the prophecy.

“The mystery of the coming” refers to the prophecy of the prophet Malachi, the prophecy of the mysterious and unexpected way of God's coming. Carried in the arms of a lowly mother, “the King of glory” and the “Lord of hosts” enters into His own house unnoticeably (Ps 24:7-8,10). To the priest and the others who come into the Temple, the child is only one among many who waits in line to satisfy the precept of the Mosaic Law. The mystery, hidden from centuries, is made manifest only to a poor man and a humble woman whose faith leads them to recognize the true identity of the child.

“The reality of the meeting” refers to the encounter of Simeon and Anna with the infant Jesus. With hearts pure and meek, Simeon and Anna have lived their whole lives awaiting the promised Messiah who would some day visit the Temple. When the moment finally arrives, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, they are able to meet the future saviour face to face. Simeon's canticle Nunc Dimittis, sung with the triumphant tone of heavenly peace, movingly expresses the reality of the event that has taken place; he could be released from the burden of life and departed in peace. The oracles of Isaiah are now fulfilled for all peoples (rf Is 42:6, 52:10).

"The proclamation of the prophecy” refers to Simeon's prophecy. It is a prophecy “of love and of sorrow, of light and of darkness, of joy and of suffering, of death and of life” (To the priests, our Lady's beloved sons ch. 442). Forty days after His birth, “while we are still at the dawn of Jesus’ life, we are already oriented to Calvary. It is on the Cross that Jesus will be definitively confirmed as a sign of contradiction, and it is there that his Mother’s heart will be pierced by the sword of sorrow” (Homily of St John Paul II Eucharistic Celebration on the Feast of Presentation February 2, 1997 Par.4).

Celebrated for the first time in 1997, the World Day for Consecrated Life is to be a day of recognition of the consecrated life of all religious, a life which is a gift of the Holy Spirit to the Church. Those who are in consecrated life are called to reflect the light of Christ to all peoples. Though it is a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life, St. John Paul II also addressed members of secular institutes and societies of apostolic life (rf CCC 928-930). Entrusted with the task of proclaiming the primacy of God over every human reality, he invited us all, together with Simeon and Anna, to meet the Lord in His Temple, to welcome the light of His revelation, to commit ourselves in spreading the Good News and to become light to all people.

In this era of growing rejection of God, as Christians, Simeon's prophecy is equally true to us. The attempt to follow and imitate Jesus is a constant struggle and a contradictory sign to the world in our daily lives. May we be able to see God's continual presence through the lives of the religious in their fidelity, example, service and prayer.

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