Homily - Presentation of the Lord

Homily - Presentation of the Lord (February 2, 2003)

Malachi 3:1-4 <> Hebrews 2:14-18 <> Luke 2:22-40

-- Fr. Timothy W. Castor

Today we conclude our Christmas celebrations. That’s right, the Presentation of the Lord is the last feast of Christmas and Epiphany—our final commemoration of the Incarnation of the Son of God. Now, those of you who are liturgically savvy, might be saying to yourselves, "what about March 25^th?" And you’re right, the Annunciation of the Lord is also a feast of the Incarnation. But March 25^th, when we commemorate the conception of Jesus in the womb of his virgin mother, looks forward to next Christmas; while today’s feast looks back to the Christmas we have just celebrated.

Today we join Mary and Joseph as they carry their newborn child—just forty days old—in procession into the Temple, in order to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses. Out of the great throng of people who crowded the Temple that day, only two recognized who it was that this young couple carried: he was the light of the world, sent to dispel the darkness of sin and error, sent to bring salvation to Israel and to the nations. To remind us of this great event, we carried candles today—a symbol of Christ’s light—as we entered this holy Temple.

In celebrating this feast today, we take one last backward glance at our Christmas joy, recalling with love that the little child of Bethlehem is truly the Son of God who, as the writer to the Hebrews today reminds us, was made "like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people." But the same writer continues with these words: "Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested." So, not only do we look back to Christmas, but we look forward on this feast to our Lord’s suffering and death on Calvary—we look forward to Good Friday. This is the reason Jesus came into the world: to die in place of us sinners. This is what Holy Simeon hinted at when he said to Mary, "behold, this child is destined for the rise and fall of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted."

And so, what today is certainly a feast of light, a feast of joy, is also a commemoration of Christ’s suffering, and a reminder to us that, if we wish to share in the joy of Christ, we must also share in his suffering. Jesus’ mother Mary (who is also our blessed Mother) was warned today of the sword that would pierce her soul. This would be the sword of sorrow which would pierce her heart as she stood at the foot of the Cross and watched her only Son die. She was the Lord’s first disciple, so what she experienced can be expected in the life of every disciple. We too will know sorrow and suffering as we take up our crosses to follow Jesus.

Today, indeed, we look forward to Good Friday. But Good Friday was not the end. For this reason, our liturgy calls to mind yet another celebration—another feast of light—another occasion on which lighted candles are carried into the Church—this time commemorating the light of Christ as he rose from the dead. At the great vigil of Easter on Holy Saturday, the new fire is blessed outside in the dark of night; from this fire, the Paschal candle is lit and carried with great solemnity into the Church. From this single flame, the fire spreads to all of the candles in the hands of the faithful and soon the Church is flooded with light. Christ’s life and truth is present to us, not only in the mystery of his Incarnation, but in the power and glory of his resurrection. Christ has conquered death once for all, and, in the words of the writer to the Hebrews in today’s second reading, he has "freed those who through fear of death had been subject to slavery all their life."

On this feast of the Presentation of the Lord; on this Lord’s Day—the weekly feast of his resurrection—this is the joy we share: freedom from the fear of death, this is the hope we celebrate: new life in Christ. We have carried a symbol of Christ’s light into our Church; let us now carry the reality of his light into our homes, into our workplaces, into our schools. All around us we are constantly reminded of death and destruction, of terror and imminent war, of hatred and great evil. But even in the midst of these sorrows, the light of Jesus is not extinguished. We pray that others will always see this light shining in us and through us; may they catch the flame from us and burn with his light as well. Because this is the only light which can bring hope, salvation and peace.