The Feast of
the Presentation of the Lord
(Malachi 3:1-4;
Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40)
We will find
the gospel today as typically Lucan in at least three ways. First, it highlights the Jewish background of
Jesus. Mary and Joseph observe Jewish
religious law. Simeon and Anna are
faithful Jews awaiting the coming of the Messiah. Simeon’s prophecy is also in line with the
Old Testament. The Day of the Lord will
bring havoc to the godless and glory to the upright.
Second, a
small but significant characteristic of Luke is his gender inclusiveness. He includes Elizabeth along with Zachariah in
his birth account of John the Baptist.
Later on, he will tell of the women disciples (although he does not use
that term) of Jesus. The Lucan Jesus
tells of the happiness of the shepherd who discovers his lost sheep. Immediately
afterwards he speaks of the same joy in a housewife who finds a lost coin. In the passage today Luke pairs the
prophetess Anna with the holy man Simeon.
Both are jubilant to witness the coming of the redemption of Israel.
Most
importantly, Jesus embodies the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of Israel
being a light to the nations. Also from
Isaiah, he brings peace wherever he goes. in this case Simeon is comforted for
having seen salvation in Jesus. But the
light and peace that Jesus brings does not come without great cost. Jesus is “a sign that will be contradicted.”
He will be opposed and indeed martyred in completing his mission.
