Artist Hans Holbein the Elder. Public Domain
The Presentation of the Lord
The feast commemorates the purifying of the Blessed Virgin according to the Mosaic Law, 40 days after the birth of Christ, and the presentation of the Infant Jesus in the Temple. The feast was introduced into the Eastern Empire by Emperor Justinian I and is mentioned in the Western Church in the Gelasian Sacramentary of the 7th century.
Candles are blessed on that day in commemoration of the words of Holy Simeon concerning Christ “a light to the revelation of the Gentiles” (Luke 2), and a procession with lighted candles is held in the church to represent the entry of Christ, the Light of the World, into the Temple of Jerusalem.
Today is observed as World Day for Consecrated Life. Its purpose is “to help the entire Church to esteem evermore greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the practice of the evangelical counsels” as well as “to be a suitable occasion for consecrated persons to renew their commitment and rekindle the fervor which should inspire their offering of themselves to the Lord.” St John Paul II, 1997.
Christmas Season ended with the Epiphany this year. Some traditions like to keep Christmas until today. Today signifies the transition from the incarnation to the Paschal Mystery. Jesus is the light that has come into the world. Jesus, always God, always divine, takes on our human nature to expiate our sins. Through His human nature He is able to help us.
Remarkably, we humans sinned, but cannot atone for sins. Only God can bring us back to heaven, but God is not at fault for our sins. Only through the incarnation can this dilemma be resolved. Amazing!
May the Lord bless you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen