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“Presentation of Jesus at the Temple” by Andrea Celesti, c. 1710
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Commentary:
Reading 1: 1 John 2:12-17
Commentary on 1 Jn 2:12-17
St. John addresses his audience individually on sin and forgiveness using an interesting metaphor for the trinity: children, fathers, young men. The believing community he addresses is armed through faith against the evil one. He focuses in his last paragraph on avoiding the secular world. He exhorts them to separate themselves from “things” of the world, saying that they are of the world and therefore unworthy of special care, leading the faithful away from God (see also John 17:9-26 and John 15:18-27).
CCC: 1 Jn 2:16 377, 2514, 2534
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10
R. (11a) Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!
Commentary on Ps 96:7-8a, 8b-9, 10
While Psalm 96 is a song of praise, the psalmist reminds us that even in praise we need to offer what we have in gratitude. The structure is familiar: first we are given the audience ("you families of nations"), then the response ("bring gifts, and enter his courts"), and finally praise as a response from God ("he governs the peoples with equity").
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Gospel: Luke 2:36-40
Commentary on Lk 2:36-40
Continuing the story surrounding the presentation of Jesus, in this passage St. Luke describes the prophetess Anna. This role, for widows to prophesy in the temple, was not uncommon. The symbolism depicting Anna has clear linkage back to Old Testament events. It begins with the number seven. Rabbinical literature recognizes seven as the number of prophetesses: Sarah and Miriam in Exodus 15:20, Deborah in Judges 4:4, Hannah mother of Samuel in 1 Samuel 2:1, Abigail wife of David in 1 Samuel 25:32, Huldah in 2 Kings 22:14, and Esther. These women gave witness to God’s will, at least in their holiness, and spoke in his name. Anna, in this prophetic role (Phanuel translates as “face of God” and Asher as “good luck”), echoes the words of Simeon saying that this young baby (Jesus) is the redemption of Jerusalem. The city, in this instance, represents all of the elect.
The final verses provide a glimpse of Jesus’ necessary hidden life in Nazareth. He grows in faith and stature in preparation for the mission assigned to him.
CCC: Lk 2:38 711
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Reflection:
The timing of the first reading from 1 John is very good. It is almost a week since the great secular glut of commercial Christmas and its aftermath, the post-Christmas feeding frenzy. Just as we see the children tiring of their new toys and games and the adults thinking about returning to the routines of making their way in the world, the evangelist addresses himself to us. He reminds us first about the meaning of the Nativity whose octave we are still in: “…your sins have been forgiven for his name’s sake.” He then goes on to restate the great Christian paradox found in his own Gospel, to be part of the world but separate from it.
The Evangelist warns us about what we just went through: “…sensual lust, enticement for the eyes, and a pretentious life,” all part of the commercial Christmas. It is so pervasive that in the U.S., even religious people of non-Christian denominations gather and buy gifts with no attachment whatsoever to the birth of the Savior.
These are not the things of God but, as St. John says, things of the world. The Christian must be in the world but stand apart from it. What is truly important is not how well we did “under the tree,” but how well we did by the standards of him who loves us. The Lord came as not just a symbol of love, but love itself into the world. Even as we think about taking extra good care of the new golf clubs or the new appliance, we should ask ourselves what we are doing to take care of what is really important in ourselves.
Today we are reminded of our Christian duty and the role we are called to play in God’s plan. He casts us into the world like seeds so that we might transform it (not be transformed by it). Today our voices join with the Prophetess Anna in thanking God for the gift of the Christ Child, and pledging to rededicate ourselves to the cause which brought him into the world.
Pax
[2] The picture is “Presentation of Jesus at the Temple” by Andrea Celesti, c. 1710
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