Luke 2:
And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord") and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons." (Luke 2:22-24)
Here we see the Author of the law, who was not bound by the law (not to mention the fact that he did not open the womb of his Virgin Mother), nonetheless submit himself, along with his mother, to the law.
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The Lord's entry into the temple, carried by the New Ark, is a remarkable moment in the history of salvation. Consider that this temple in Jerusalem had never housed the Glory Cloud of God, and its predecessor, the Temple of Solomon, saw the Glory Cloud exit just before the Babylonian exile, as recounted in a vision early in the Book of Ezekiel (see chapters 10-13). The prophet would later (in chapters 40-48) have another vision of the Lord filling a new temple with his presence, but the people did not build the second temple according to that vision. Still it would eventually come to pass that God, veiled in flesh, would grace the second temple with his presence. The Responsory in the Office of Readings for the feast connects this vision with the Presentation:
The glory of the Lord entered the temple by the eastward gate,
— and the house of God was filled with his splendor.
His parents took the child Jesus into the temple.
— And the house of God was filled with his splendor.
Dom Prosper Gueranger reflects on it thus:
The Emmanuel has left Bethlehem; he has come among the people; he is about to take possession of his Temple, and the mere tact of his entering it, will straightways give it a glory, which is far above that of its predecessor. He will often visit it during his mortal life; but his coming to it today, carried as he is in Mary's arms, is enough for the accomplishment of the promise, and all the shadows and figures of this Temple at once pale before the rays of the Sun of Truth and Justice. The blood of oxen and goats will, for a few years more, flow on its altar; but the Infant, who holds in his veins the Blood that is to redeem the world, is, at this moment, standing near that very Altar.
The fate of the child is intimated in the words of Simeon to the Mother of God as he blessed the Holy Family: "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed." This prophecy of Simeon is the first of the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
Yet this sorrow is mingled within great joy. Just prior to his prophecy, Simeon breaks out in song, "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word; for mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy people Israel."
There is one other important character to highlight in this story, that of the prophetess Anna, a widow who "did not depart from the temple, worshipping with fasting and prayer night and day." Luke tells us that she came up to the temple at that very hour, and "she gave thanks to God, and spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem."
Simeon and Anna both recognize that the Light of the World has entered into his holy temple, which is why the priest will bless candles on this feast. And just like Simeon and Anna, we are called to carry and proclaim the Light to the people who walk in darkness. We, who have been baptized into Christ, are now called to be a light to the nations. May we, who are temples of the Holy Spirit, allow the Light of Christ to shine through us.
Let us pray:
Lord, may our eyes see your salvation.
Christ Jesus, in obedience to the law, you desired to be presented to your Father in the temple, teach us to offer ourselves to the Father with you in your Church's sacrifice.
All-powerful Father,
Christ your Son became man for us and was presented in the temple.
May he free our hearts from sin and bring us into your presence.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and reigns with you and Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
— Amen.
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