Wednesday, February 2, 2022

 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.