“The Presentation at the Temple” by Philippe de Champaigne, 1648 |
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the Lord whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the Lord.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the Lord,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.
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Commentary on Mal 3:1-4
In this passage, from the fourth oracle in the Book of the prophet Malachi ("My Messenger"), the prophet has visions of three personages. The prophet sees God directly intervening in sacred history as he did with the great prophets. In the light of the revealed Messiah, the prophet’s visions are interpreted as representing, first, John the Baptist (“Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me”), and then the coming of the Messiah (“And suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek”). When these two revelatory events have occurred, the whole law and prophets are fulfilled; God's promise of salvation is given.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24:7, 8, 9, 10
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty,
the Lord, mighty in battle.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Lift up, O gates, your lintels;
reach up, you ancient portals,
that the king of glory may come in!
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
Who is this king of glory?
The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory.
R. Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord!
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Commentary on Ps 24:7, 8, 9, 10
In Psalm 24 we hear a longing for the coming of the Lord to his people. The psalmist gives us the image of the inanimate gates of the new Jerusalem, God’s Heavenly Kingdom, welcoming the Lord of Hosts. For Christians, we have God in the person of Jesus coming into the temple. This second section of the song praises God as the true king of the people who leads them to victory over their foes. The song was sung as part of a liturgical procession recalling the transfer of the ark of the covenant to the temple in Jerusalem. Again, for Christians the ark is analogous to the Blessed Virgin, the new ark who carries the savior of the world.
CCC: Ps 24:7-10 559; Ps 24:8-10 269; Ps 24:9-10 2628
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Reading II: Hebrews 2:14-18
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
Surely he did not help angels
but rather the descendants of Abraham;
therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters
in every way,
that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God
to expiate the sins of the people.
Because he himself was tested through what he suffered,
he is able to help those who are being tested.
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Commentary on Heb 2:14-18
The Letter to the Hebrews presents an apologia on the Lord’s humanity. The author is eloquent in logic as he says: “Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham,” meaning he came as man not as spirit in support of the sons of Abraham. By assuming humanity, the Lord became the perfect vessel in which the sins of all mankind were assumed and contained. As additional proof of Jesus’ humanity, the Lord’s passion is referenced as a source of strength for those who are likewise tested on account of their faith. He came as the sacrificial offering, that through his suffering and death, those he loves may not have to endure the fate reserved for those who live in darkness.
CCC: Heb 2:14-15 635; Heb 2:14 407, 636; Heb 2:15 1520, 2602; Heb 2:17-18 609
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Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“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.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“Behold, this child is destined
for the fall and rise of many in Israel,
and to be a sign that will be contradicted
Band you yourself a sword will pierce
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.
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Commentary on Lk 2:22-40
St. Luke begins the account of the Lord’s presentation recalling that Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, followed Mosaic law by observing the rite of purification, which, by tradition, was required of any member of the community who had come in contact with the “mystery,” life and death (the birth of a child or the burial of the dead).
CCC: Lk 2:22-39 529, 583; Lk 2:25 711; Lk 2:26-27 695; Lk 2:32 713; Lk 2:34 575, 587; Lk 2:35 149, 618; Lk 2:38 711
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Or: Luke 2:22-32
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“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.”
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Commentary on Lk 2:22-32
CCC: Lk 2:22-39 529, 583; Lk 2:25 711; Lk 2:26-27 695; Lk 2:32 713
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Reflection:
[1] The picture is “The Presentation at the Temple” by Philippe de Champaigne, 1648.
[2] S.S. Commemoratio
[3] The readings are taken from the New American Bible, with the exception of the psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL). This republication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[4] NAB Footnote on Luke 2:22.
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