Homily for the Presentation of the Lord Todays feast of the - PDF document

Homily for the Presentation of the Lord Today’s feast of the Presentation of the Lord isn’t one that we get to celebrate too often, because it always falls on February 2 nd – the 40 th day from Christmas – that’s today – also known as Scout Sunday, World Day for Consecrated Life, Groundhog Day, and Super Bowl Sunday! Wow, it’s a busy day. Today’s liturgical feast marks the event of Jesus being presented in the Temple in Jerusalem by his parents, Mary and Joseph. According to Jewish law, the first born male of the family would be brought to the Temple to be offered to the Lord – a kind of offering the first fruits of the womb in thanksgiving to God for the gift of life. In a secular way, it could kind of be compared to when a business owner tacks up the first dollar bill in a visible place in the restaurant as a sign of thanksgiving for money being earned. In Judaism, though, to symbolize this offering up of the first born son, the parents would usually bring a lamb to be sacrificed as a burnt offering and a turtle dove for a sin offering. But, in the case of those not able to afford it, two turtle doves (or pigeons) could be offered instead. The Holy Family offered two birds; this shows they were not wealthy. But, there’s something else going on h ere. The son of Mary, who is also the Son of God, is being offered to His heavenly Father. And the prophet Simeon reveals this in his prophetic statement: “ 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 the sight of all the peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

A light of revelation. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says “ I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will n ot walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus is the one who came to bring light to the world – to shine in the midst of darkness and sin – to be a candle guiding humanity on its way. Now, the first time that we received Jesus into our personal lives was at baptism. For many of us as infants, we received that free gift of God’s grace by which we were saved. At that time we were born again of water and the Spirit and were washed clean of all sin. As part of the baptism ritual, the priest or deacon lit our baptismal candle from the fire of the Paschal Candle, which represents Christ. Then he presented that candle to our parents and godparents. Because we were still too young to make that full choice on our own to be followers of Jesus, they promised to keep that flame of faith burning brightly within us until we would make that choice for ourselves through Confirmation and our subsequent daily decisions to continue practicing our Catholic faith. Pope Paul VI, who was pope in the 1960s and 70s, once stated : “Christ himself says, ‘I am the light of the world.’ And we are the light, we ourselves, if we receive it from him.... But how do we receive it, how do we make it shine? ...[T]he candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure, straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exha usts itself in silent sacrifice.” Beautiful.

My brothers and sisters, as members of Christ ’s Body, the Church, we are the light of the world in Him. We have been given that light of faith. You know, sometimes we may wonder if that light is still there or think that the flame must barely be a flicker – but that light of faith is always within. And so, we come to Mass, and we receive the sacraments, to provide the very oxygen which a fire needs to burn. But we also need to continually fan that flame into a fire within daily through prayer. Yes, as Christians, Jesus calls us to be a light to the world. But, in order to shine, we need to stoke that fire each day with prayer. Having a meaningful daily prayer life is so essential. I highly recommend a time of Eucharistic Adoration if you can – presenting yourself before Jesus, who is present in the consecrated host. We are blessed to have the perpetual adoration chapel up the hill attached to the Basilica of Saints Cyril and Methodius. I ’ d really invite you to stop in there, or come to Mass early here, and present yourself before the tabernacle in sacred silence. Talk to Jesus from your heart. Tell Him how much you love Him. Open your heart to Him unreservedly. Do not be afraid! As Pope Paul VI said, many times it might feel like we are candles being burnt down. But the sacrifice that we make of ourselves in daily prayer is so worth it as the Lord not only renews our faith, but also our very selves! As Scripture teaches, the measure with which we measure is measured out to us. Therefore, the more we invite Jesus in to be Lord of our lives, the more we will experience Him measured out to us in the love, the mercy, and the peace that only He can give. And the more we receive Jesus, the more we can share Him with others! God bless you.