The Presentation: An encounter of ‘Hope and Fulfilment’
We often live our lives dominated by the past! Our yesterdays are more important that our tomorrows. Memories are our only treasure. The older we grow the stronger our attachment for our memories. Today’s gospel presents us with Simeon and Anna, who oddly prefer the future. They cling on to the ‘hope and fulfilment’ of the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah. The young parents Mary and Joseph with the child Jesus encounter the old spirit-filled venerables Simeon (= one who hears) and Anna, daughter of Phanuel (= face of God) in the Temple.
Luke testifies on five occasions that Mary and Joseph did everything that the Law of Moses required. They fulfil two specific regulations of the Torah: the ‘purification’ of the mother forty days after the birth of a child (Lev 12:1-8) and the dedication of the firstborn to God (Ex 13:2, 12-16). The child Jesus is the fulfilment of the promises of the Old Testament. Simeon represents ancient Israel who patiently awaits the coming of the Messiah. Anna, on the other hand, represents a lifetime of service to God.
The infancy narratives in the gospel of Luke are filled with the songs of Zachariah, and Mary. Today, Simeon holding the infant Jesus in his arms, sings his Nunc Dimittis: “Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised…” He foretells who Jesus would be -the glory of the people of Israel and revelation to the Gentiles. His joyful song now adds a pinch of pain and sorrow! Jesus would also be a ‘sign of contradiction’, and with a gaze of caution he addresses Mary that a ‘sword will pierce her soul’. Surely, where there is great love, there is great pain too. Joy and sorrow, acceptance and rejection, birth and death are part of the milestones between Bethlehem and Calvary. Mary had to ponder these things in her heart.
Anna, a daughter of the ‘face of God’ has made the Temple her dwelling for seven decades with daily fasting and prayer. Addressing the crowds in the Temple she praises God for the person of Jesus in who all ancient promises are fulfilled.
Simeon and Anna stay back in the Temple. Mary and Joseph take the child back to Nazareth. The HOME is the locus where the parents will now enable the child Jesus to mature, to be filled with wisdom, and to grow in favour with God and with people.
Like Simeon and Anna we are all called to WAIT on the Lord, and like Mary and Joseph we are all invited to MATURE like Jesus in stature, wisdom, and favour with God and people.
Fr Glenford Lowe
