The Light of Revelation
Christmas and Easter are two celebratory events for the Church. Each being so important that we celebrate for eight days. Today is the fifth day of celebration. Mary and Joseph take the baby Jesus to the temple to present him to the Lord. Like what we do today in the sacrament of baptism. It is a moment filled with joy and expectations. Families gather for this moment. In our hearts, we want to see each child have a beginning in faith. The parents promise to raise the child in the faith, knowing one day in the future their child will make that decision for themselves.
We would not expect to have someone make a prophecy as Simeon does. Simeon tells Mary that this child will be the fall and rise of many, a sign of contradiction, and a sword of contradiction will pierce the Mother’s heart. Reading this phrase in the context of today’s understanding of the gospel, we can think of the fall and rise of many as the fall of the Jewish religious class and the rise of the new disciples of Christ.
The sword that pierced Mary’s heart, we should not jump ahead to the foot of the cross. But remember her surprise at the Annunciation. Explaining her pregnancy to Joseph. Fleeing from Herod into Egypt. Losing Jesus in the temple at the age of twelve. Watching her son tortured and crucified. As with any parent, I wonder how many times a sword has pierced our heart when we see one of our children suffer? Trusting in God, we know He prepares us for the good as well as the bad things that happen in this life.
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.