Reflection for February 2, 2020

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (A)
Malachi 3:1-4   |   Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10   |   Hebrews 2:14-18   |   Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

Today, February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, or Candlemas, is celebrated in the Western Church, exactly 40 days after Christmas. Mary and Joseph brings the infant Jesus to the temple in order to fulfill their obligations under the law of Moses. In the Eastern Church, this feast is called Hypapánte or Feast of the Encounter 

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because the New Testament, represented by the Baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna.
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Ernesto, a farmer, excitedly reported to his wife and family that their best cow had given birth to twin calves, one red and one white. He said, "You know I have suddenly had a feeling that we must dedicate one of the calves to the Lord. We will bring them up together, and when the time comes we will sell one and give the proceeds to the Lord’s work." Marita, the farmer’s wife asked him which he was going to dedicate to the Lord. "There is no need to bother about that now," he replied, "we will treat them both in the same way, and when the time comes we will do as I say." In a few months Ernesto entered the kitchen looking very miserable and unhappy. When Marita asked him what was troubling him, he answered, "I have bad news to give you. The Lord’s calf is dead." "But", Marita said, "you had not decided which was to be the Lord’s calf." "Oh yes," Ernesto said; "I had always decided it was to be the white one, and it is the white one that has died. The Lord’s calf is dead."

The First Reading is from the prophet Malachi. It consists of a prophecy which can be applied to the Messiah. Malachi prophesied at a time when Israel’s faith had hit a new low. Israel’s priests had grown negligent in their observance of the Law. The chosen people were in a state of spiritual bankruptcy. They lacked interior disposition. The prophet warned that the Lord they seek will come to the temple and will refine the sons of Levi, “refining them like gold or silver, that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord. Only those who are purified and offer right worship before the Lord will receive his favor and election.

Fr Carlos was performing last rites on Alex, a dying man. “Renounce the devil!” he said. “Let him know how little you think of him!” Alex said nothing. Fr Carlos repeated his order, but still Alex said nothing. “Why do you refuse to renounce the devil?” the priest asked. Alex responded, “Until I know where I’m going, I don’t think I should aggravate anybody.”

Whe we face death, we do so generally with great fear. The early converts to the faith had to struggle with the notion that Jesus was human like us and subject to suffering and death of an earthly life. Satan had power over death and therefore death was our great enemy. He continues to hold people in slavery because of their fear of death. The author of the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus broke Satan's power by dying on the cross. By dying, he destroyed our death and destroyed him who holds the power of death. By rising up he has given us a the life he was raised with. Satan can no longer frighten us with death. Jesus said, "I have the keys to death."

An elderly woman in frail health was speaking with her doctor and expressing her hope that she would have the strength to live just a few more months so that she could celebrate the birth of her first grandchild. Sure enough, the day came, and the woman was present and well enough to hold the little child in her arms. When the woman went back to her doctor, he suggested that it would be important to set a new goal so that she had something to look forward to, something to “keep her going”. “Well”, the woman pondered, “my son did just buy me a new refrigerator with a 10-year warranty."

Today in Luke’s Gospel we are introduced to a couple of characters who have been waiting for a long time for a promise to be fulfilled. Present in the temple at the time of our Lord's presentation are Simeon and Anna. Both are awaiting the restoration of God’s rule in Israel. Simeon was “righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.” Anna was a prophetess, advanced in years, and a woman of prayer. She “never left the temple, but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.” Simeon immediately recognized the infant Jesus as the promised Savior, a “light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for the people of Israel.” Anna also recognized Jesus as the fulfillment of the promise of redemption and spoke about him to all. Anna and Simeon have hearts that are open to seeing with the eyes of faith. Their prayer, worship and longing for the Messiah prepared them to see him when he arrived. Would you recognize Jesus when you meet him? Recognizing him comes through fidelity and prayerful vigilance. Like Simeon and Anna, we can recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord within us and in others. Their devotion to God made them available and open to God’s revelation.

Dearest Father, we want to give you of our very best and worship you as you desire and as you deserve. Teach us to always give with a joyous and grateful heart. You freed us from fear of death. By dying you destroyed our death and by rising you restored our life. May we always see death not as the end of life but the beginning of new life with you. Simeon and Anna saw what no one around them saw— that you visited your people through a little boy. Open our eyes and prepare our hearts to immediately recognize your presence within us and in others. This we pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen. <enrique, ofs>