The Presentation in the Temple
Lk 2:22-40
22When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, [Joseph and Mary] took [Jesus] up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord...
25Now 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. 26It had been revealed to him by the holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. 27He 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, 28he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
29“Now, Master, you may let your servant go/ in peace, according to your word,/ 30for my eyes have seen your salvation,/ 31which you prepared in sight of all the peoples,/ 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles,/ and glory for your people Israel.” 33The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; 34and 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 35(and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 36There 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, 37and then as a widow until she was eighty-four... 38And 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.
39When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions of the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.
LIGHT TO THE NATIONS
The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Jerusalem Temple is given by Luke two settings from the Law of Moses.
The first is the purification of the mother after the birth of a child. According to Lv 12:1, Mary, who has given birth to a boy, is unclean for seven days. Then, at the time of her purification, she offers a pair of two young pigeons because she probably cannot afford a lamb.
The other practice is the consecration or the presentation of the firstborn male to the Lord, which is related to the Lord’s sparing the life of the Israelite firstborn when he slew the firstborn of the Egyptians (cf Ex 13:1-16). The original idea was that the firstborn belonged to the Lord and would spend his life serving the Lord. The Levites would eventually take over the special service of the Lord, which allowed the firstborn to be bought back for five shekels.
There is no obligation of bringing the child to the sanctuary, but since the Holy Family is already in Bethlehem, Luke sets the event in the Temple of Jerusalem.
The Presentation of the Lord is celebrated in the liturgy as candelaria, the ritual of candles. Candles are blessed and lighted to welcome the Child Jesus—the Lord—as he enters the Temple. Luke points to the fulfillment of an oracle: “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” (Mal 3:1). John the Baptist, the new Elijah, is already born. Now, it is the Lord Jesus’ turn to enter the Temple.
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