Texts taken from the Missal “Sulla Tua Parola” January-February 2025
Presentation of the Lord (f)
proper
FIRST READING
From the Book of the Prophet Malachi (Mal 3:1-4)
Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, I will send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and suddenly the Lord whom you seek will enter his temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you desire, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire and like the fuller’s lye. He will sit to smelt and purify the silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may offer the Lord an offering according to justice. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in former days, as in years long past.” – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the first reading
The people were waiting and wondering when the God of justice would arise. Malachi, in this passage, answers the question: “Behold, I will send my messenger… and suddenly the Lord whom you seek will enter his temple.” He will come, the prophet continues, to purify “the sons of Levi; he will refine them like gold… and the offering… will be acceptable.” God will send one of his messengers and answer the people who call upon him. He will do so solemnly, giving his own Son, Jesus: he is God’s answer. Not words, but his Son. The priest Simeon - whose experience we heard about in the Gospel - is the one who will recognize the Expected One of the nations, because his heart has never stopped waiting and hoping. Malachi’s text challenges our freedom and responsibility: what, and above all, Whom are we waiting for? Or, if you prefer: tell me whom you await, and I will tell you who you are.
SECOND READING
From the Letter to the Hebrews (Heb 2:14-18)
Since the children share in blood and flesh, Christ likewise became a sharer in them, so that through death he might reduce to powerlessness the one who holds the power of death, that is, the devil, and thus set free those who, through fear of death, were subject to slavery all their lives. For surely it is not angels he helps, but the descendants of Abraham he helps. Therefore he had to become like his brothers in every way, so that he might become a merciful and trustworthy high priest in matters pertaining to God, in order to atone for the sins of the people. Indeed, because he himself was tested and suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. – The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the second reading
The text describes the entry of Jesus, the Son of God, into the world. Jesus, the Son of God, is without sin, yet he became one with us sinners in order to defeat sin and death from within. This is why he understands our joys and hardships, our struggles and weaknesses, arising from the fact that we are “not angels, but of the lineage of Abraham.” And precisely because he “was tested and suffered personally, he is able to come to the aid of those who are undergoing testing.” Jesus’ coming into the world is an event that is not limited to the emotion of Christmas, but is a solidarity that will be expressed throughout the whole journey of his life, up to death, and death on a cross. Because Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us.
GOSPEL
From the Gospel according to Luke (Lk 2:22-40)
When the days of their ritual purification, according to the law of Moses, were completed, Mary and Joseph took the child to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord - as it is written in the law of the Lord: “Every male firstborn shall be consecrated to the Lord” - and to offer in sacrifice a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, as prescribed by the law of the Lord. Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon, a righteous and devout man, who was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. The Holy Spirit had foretold him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Moved by the Spirit, he went to the temple and, while the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law prescribed, he too took him in his arms and blessed God, saying: “Now, Lord, you can let your servant go in peace, according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation, prepared by you in the sight of all peoples: a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.” Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be contradicted - and a sword will pierce your own soul too - 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 very advanced in age, had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, had then remained a widow and was now eighty-four years old. She never left the temple, serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. Coming forward at that very moment, she too began to praise God and spoke about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had fulfilled everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their city of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. - The word of the Lord.
Commentary on the Gospel
On February 2, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus is celebrated. According to the Law, forty days after birth (today is forty days after Christmas), the child must be presented at the Temple. The Gospel says that an elderly man, Simeon, was waiting there to welcome him. When he saw him, he said: “My eyes have seen your salvation, prepared by you in the sight of all peoples, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” Jesus is recognized as the “light of the world.” As we said in the commentary on the first reading, Simeon lived his life wholly devoted to awaiting the Lord and Savior. Now, faced with this helpless Child, he can serenely say: “Now, Lord, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, because my eyes have seen your salvation.” Simeon does not need to see how Jesus will grow and bring the expectation of the nations to fulfillment: he has seen the “sign” in that child. That is enough for him. How much we have to learn, we who often want every detail to be clear before making a decision! Simeon suggests that we learn to recognize the “signs” and the “shoots,” and for the rest, leave it to God.
