2/6/22
The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple
The Presentation of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple E. Bevan Stanley
transferred to February 6, 2022
Malachi 3:1-4
Hebrews 2:14-18
Luke 2:22-40
When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. In the Name of the one, holy, and undivided Trinity. Amen
Joseph and Mary have two purposes when they come to the Temple in Jerusalem. These are mentioned in the full opening to this story: When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”), and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
One of the purposes is to perform the rite of purification for Mary after giving birth. This is spelled out in Leviticus 12:2-8 where it says that on the fortieth day after a birth the woman must offer a lamb and young pigeon or turtledove, or if she cannot afford a lamb, two young pigeons or two turtledoves. The fact that in Luke’s story no mention is made of the lamb but of the two birds indicates that Mary and Joseph could not afford the lamb. If you count December 25th as the day one, then the fortieth day is February second, which is the date of the Feast of the Presentation. (We have moved its celebration to day, because it has not been our custom in this parish to celebrate Holy Days during the week.)
The other purpose is to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in fulfillment of the commandments in Exodus 13:2 and 12. As Luke puts it, “as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord.” This idea shows up in a number of places in the Torah. At first it seems to be a general principle that the first of anything is always offered to God. This seems to lie behind the terrible story in which Abraham is asked to offer Isaac to God. The law of Moses requires that first born humans be redeemed by sacrificing some other animal in place of the human. In Exodus, this idea is modified to be a commemoration of the saving of all Jewish first born males from the angel of death on the night of the Passover.
So, Mary and Joseph come to the Temple for Mary’s purification and to present Jesus to the Lord and redeem him. Oddly, there is no mention of a sacrifice for Jesus’ redemption. Might this be a foreshadowing of the fact that in end Jesus is offered up to die?
In any case, while they are in the Temple, the old man Simeon comes up to them. Luke says, “This man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word.” This is so poignant. The old man has been waiting and yearning to see the arrival of the Messiah. And then in this tiny one month old baby he sees the salvation of his people. He knows that this is the moment that he has been living for. He has seen salvation of his people and the glory of Israel. Now his life is complete, and he is ready to die.
This is wonderful news, but Simeon goes on in a more somber vein saying to Mary: “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed– and a sword will pierce your own soul too.” The coming of this Messiah will upset the society and norms of the people to whom he is coming. Many will fall and many will rise. He will probe the deepest recesses of our souls. And Mary will experience great sorrow.
Then Anna, and eighty-four year old widow who is also a prophet comes and says more about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Israel. The parents take the child home and we hear nothing more of them until he twelve and they make a visit to Jerusalem for the Passover.
What about us? Are we looking for the Messiah? Do we long to see Jesus? Do we take seriously the wisdom of the old among us? Do we offer our children to God? Alinda and I did. Now I am going to boast about our younger daughter, Ellen. She is the one in Minnesota who has build her life around folk and roots music both as advocate and performer. At the beginning of the pandemic, she and a colleague began a show on Zoom called the Back Catalog Listening Party. Every Friday afternoon they invite a singer to pick a few songs from one of their old recordings. Then they have the artist on the call and they talk with the artist about their music and the specific songs they are playing. This week they had an African American singer named Annie Mack on. When Ellen asked her how she kept going during the pandemic and facing racism, she replied, “Well you, Ellen. You are warrior for original artists and an ally for black artists and black people.” I was so proud I wept. God is using her in the struggle to establish the Kingdom of God on earth.
Today after this Eucharist we will hold our Annual Meeting. It is a time to reflect on the year past and envision the year to come. While we lament the absence of many young families from our worship, we rejoice in the wisdom of the more experienced. We note that both Simeon and Anna are looking forward not back. Simeon is rejoicing in a future in which he shall not share. To what future are we looking forward? How do we see our Lord Jesus leading us in the next year? Or five years? And how can we honor the children we do have? How do we nurture them to become warriors in the fight for the Kingdom?
In the last few weeks, we have heard how we are the Body of Christ. How we should honor one another’s’ gifts. That the greatest gift is love. We have heard that our purpose is to be a blessing for everyone else on the planet. We have seen that, when Jesus shows up, water turns to wine. Let us not make the mistake of thinking that our Annual Meeting is about the organization of this parish. It is about the calling of this community to be the Body of Christ and to work with God in building the kingdom of compassion and justice to which all the law and the prophets point. The kingdom that Jesus said was already here and about to arrive.
Our eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
a light for revelation to the Gentiles
and for glory to your people Israel.
