February 2, 2025
Loving Father,
thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us and save us from sin and death. Purify our hearts, Lord, and help us trust in the power of Your love.
Commentary
According to Book of Leviticus, a Jewish woman who gave birth to a child was considered unclean (see 12:1-8) and had to participate in a ceremonial cleansing and purification.
It is interesting to note that according to our First Reading today from Malachi, another form of purification will take place when the one who is to come “will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.”
This feast day used to be called the Purification of our Blessed Mother. However, we now call this the Presentation of the Lord for we see that Christ is the one who is to come and through His passion, death and resurrection, His priestly people are purified so that we “may offer due sacrifice to the Lord.”
Our sins are purified by the blood of Christ.
How have I been, and how am I now, purified by Christ?
Commentary
A question comes up when we consider this mystery of Christ being presented by Mary and Joseph in the Temple. As we will read in the Gospel, the parents presented the child according to the law of Moses. There, they were expected to present two turtle doves or two pigeons as a sacrificial offering. But, if they offered this sacrifice, would that not point to the fact that Jesus and Mary are sinners?
In today’s reading, we see that Jesus “had to become 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.” Later, in the same letter to the Hebrews (chapter 4), we read that Jesus is like us in every way but sin.
Though the parents of our Lord came, according to the customs of the law, it is clear from this reading and from our first reading that Jesus came not to be purified of His sins, but to purify us of ours.
Why Did Jesus choose to become like us in all things but sin?
Continued...
Commentary
The Church rightfully moved the title of this feast day from the purification to the Presentation of the Lord, because the Gospel from Luke clearly states the expectation of the law of Moses regarding the firstborn male child: “Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord.”
If the baby was her firstborn male child, the infant was brought along to the temple to be dedicated to the Lord. The law in Exodus specifies that the first male child belongs to God (see 13:2-16).
Later, we will find that Jesus does not allow animals to replace or represent Himself as the firstborn male. While animals would be sacrificed on behalf of the child, Jesus Himself will enter the temple once again (even turning over tables which sold doves and pigeons) to offer Himself as the sacrifice once and for all.
It is for this reason that our Gospel today goes to great lengths to show how Simeon the high priest recognized Jesus as the Christ Child and, holding Jesus, exclaimed this hymn of thanksgiving: “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people, Israel (2:29-32).”
How have your own eyes seen God’s salvation?
Try to find 5 – 10 ways in which Jesus is like us in all things but sin. Reading through the Gospel of Luke might give you a head start as you see that He walked like us, conversed like us, etc. Then consider praying or singing the following prayer by Merle Haggard.
All say the following:
And He Walks with Me
The prayer continues with Psalm 24.
Response: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
R: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
R: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
R: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
R: Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Used with Permission. All rights reserved. Christ in Our Neighborhood © is a Scripture program designed by Bishop John Dolan of the Diocese of Phoenix. Free resources at dphx.org/christ-in-our-neighborhood.
