IHS
Sunday within the Octave of Christmas—29 December AD 2019
Ave Maria!
"#IamCristeros
Support our Building Fund
Ordinary of the Mass
English Mass Text
Latin Mass Text
“Behold, this child is set for the fall,
and for the resurrection of many in Israel,
and for a sign which shall
be contradicted:
and thy own soul a sword shall pierce….”
The Mass this morning anticipates the
liturgical season. The Gospel speaks of the Presentation in the Temple
and the Purification of the Blessed Virgin. This event did not actually
take place until forty days after the birth of Christ.
This year, February 2nd. the feast of the
Presentation will fall on a Sunday, so all of you will be able to
attend. It is a lovely Mass that includes the blessing of candles for
the coming year—quite colorful because of the procession with burning
candles
Perhaps a word or two is in order about
the nature of the “Presentation.” According to the law of Moses, every
first born belonged to the Lord. If it was an animal, it was to be
offered in sacrifice at the Temple. If it was a human child, it
obviously couldn't be sacrificed, but had, instead, to be “redeemed,: or
“bought back” from the Lord.
The redemption
price is given in the book of Numbers at five silver shekels.
(The shekel is roughly the weight of the Morgan silver
dollar.)
Another aspect of this ceremony was the
“Purification” of the mother, which was to take place at the same time.
The process of childbirth is often accompanied by the shedding of
blood. In the mind of the Jew, and according to the Mosaic law, this
shedding of blood made the mother ritually “unclean.” Blood was, to the
Jew, a symbol of life and death and defilement. The mother was not
allowed to take part in the religious services of the Jews until she
underwent the ritual of purification. The child's parents were to bring
the child, and offer a sacrificial animal in his place; or a pair of
doves if they were poor people, as were Mary and Joseph.
Now, of course, it goes without saying
that the Temple had no claim on our Lord—and that our Blessed Lady was
in no way impure, or under any stain of sin. In short, there was no
compelling necessity for either to observe the Mosaic Law in this
matter. But, what we do see here is an example of cheerful obedience to
the laws of the Church. If we are tempted to grumble about Friday
abstinence, or Lenten fasting, or Sunday Mass attendance—or whatever—we
might keep their example in mind. Mary and Joseph were content to
follow all of the prescriptions of the Law, even though they were not
strictly obliged to do so.
Enthusiasm vs. Tepidity
There is another thing that we can learn
from this Gospel; another good behavior which we can, and should,
imitate. That is the zeal displayed by the other
two people in today's Gospel: Simeon and Anna.
The prophet Simeon had grown to advanced
old age, awaiting the birth of the Savior. He had been promised by God
that he would see the Christ before his death. His zeal and his
enthusiasm were what kept him going. Quite likely he spent all of his
days in the Temple waiting for the unknown day on which the Christ would
be presented. To see the Lord was enough; was all he asked for. And,
on seeing Him, Simeon was gratified, and perfectly prepared for his
death. “Now Lord, Thou mayest dismiss Thy servant... for my eyes have
seen Thy salvation... a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the
glory of Thy people Israel.”
Anna was a prophetess—again, one who had
reached relative old age. For perhaps, 60 years or more, the Gospel
says, she had served the Temple of the Lord in fasting and prayer
throughout the day and night. Instead of living in the world and
enjoying the pleasures of its society, she consecrated herself to God.
The two of these people are models of the
life which all Christians are called to lead. They give us their
example of making constant progress in the spiritual life; of turning
their back on the excesses of the world by fasting and self denial, by a
regular spiritual routine, by attention to prayer, by a generous
spending of themselves doing the things of God—simply stated, by
enthusiasm for holy things. So that in the end we can say with holy
Simeon:
Now Lord, Thou mayest dismiss Thy
servant...
In peace, according to Thy word…
for my eyes have seen Thy salvation...
a
light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people….”
