Reflection for February 2, 2025

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (C)

Malachi 3:1-4 | Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10 | Hebrews 2:14-18 | Luke 2:22-40

Today, February 2, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, also known as Candlemas, which falls 40 days after Christmas. On this day, Mary and Joseph take the infant Jesus to the temple to follow the law of Moses. In the Eastern tradition, this feast is called Hypapánte, or the Feast of the Encounter, because the Baby Jesus (representing the New Testament) meets Simeon and Anna (representing the Old Testament). Let’s take a moment to reflect on this weekend’s readings from Malachi, Hebrews, and Luke.

Ernesto, the farmer, came rushing into the house like a kid who’d won the lottery, announcing to his family, "Guess what? Our best cow just gave birth to twin calves, one red and one white! And I have this sudden, divine inspiration—we should totally dedicate one of them to the Lord. We’ll raise them both, and when the time comes, we’ll sell one and give the money to the Lord’s work." Marita, his wife, raised an eyebrow and asked, "Which one are we dedicating to the Lord?" Ernesto waved his hand like it was no big deal, "Don’t worry about that now! We’ll treat them the same, and when the time comes, I’ll figure it out." Fast forward a few months, and Ernesto walked into the kitchen looking like he’d just been hit by a truck. Marita, sensing something was off, asked, "What’s wrong, Ernesto?" He sighed, "Bad news... the Lord’s calf is dead." Marita blinked, confused, "But you hadn’t even decided which one was the Lord’s calf!" Ernesto replied, all serious, "Oh, I knew it was the white one... and guess what? The white one’s dead. The Lord’s calf is gone."

We present to God true and unblemished gifts. The First Reading comes from the prophet Malachi, and it talks about a prophecy that can be linked to the Messiah. Malachi spoke at a time when Israel's faith was at a low point. The priests had become careless with following the Law, and the people were spiritually bankrupt, lacking the right attitude toward God. The prophet warned that the Lord they were waiting for would come to the temple to purify the priests, like gold or silver, so they could offer proper sacrifices. Only those who are purified and worship God the right way will receive His favor.

So, Fr. Carlos is there, doing his priestly thing, giving last rites to Alex, who's on his way out. He says, “Renounce the devil! Show him you don’t care!” But Alex just lays there, silent as a rock. Father Carlos gives it another shot, “C’mon, renounce the devil!” Still, nothing. Finally, he asks, “Why won’t you renounce the devil?” And Alex, all chill, goes, “Well, Father, I’m not really sure where I’m headed, so I don’t want to make anyone mad just yet!”

When we face death, it's natural to feel a lot of fear. Early believers in Jesus struggled with the idea that Jesus, being human like us, also experienced suffering and death. Death was seen as our greatest enemy, with Satan having power over it. This fear of death kept people in bondage. But the author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus defeated Satan’s hold on death by dying on the cross. In doing so, He destroyed both death and the power Satan held over it. Through His resurrection, Jesus offers us the same eternal life. Now, death no longer has the power to scare us. Jesus declared, "I have the keys to death."

An elderly woman, feeling a little fragile, was chatting with her doctor and said, “I just hope I have enough strength to hang on a few more months so I can see my first grandbaby!” And guess what? She made it! She was there, healthy enough to cuddle that little bundle of joy. A few weeks later, she saw her doctor again, who suggested she set a new goal to keep her motivated. The woman thought for a second, then said, “Hmm, my son just bought me a fridge with a 10-year warranty. That’s definitely worth sticking around for!”

How do we stay motivated and always prepared to recognize God’s revelation? In today’s reading from Luke's Gospel, we meet two people who have been waiting a long time for God’s promise to be fulfilled: Simeon and Anna. Both were in the temple when Jesus was presented. Simeon, described as righteous and devout, was waiting for the restoration of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was with him. Anna, an elderly prophetess, spent her time in prayer and fasting at the temple, worshiping day and night. Simeon immediately recognized Jesus as the Savior, the light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. Anna also saw Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promise and shared the news with everyone. Both Simeon and Anna were able to recognize Jesus because they were faithful and attentive. Their prayerful lives helped them to see God’s plan when it unfolded. Like them, we can recognize Jesus in our lives by staying faithful and prayerful. Are we paying attention enough to see Him when He comes into our lives?

<enrique,ofs>