Revealed in the Temple

~~~ Feast of the Presentation of the Lord ~~~

 

~~~ Malachi 3: 1-4 ~~~ Psalm 24 ~~~ Hebrews 2: 14-18 ~~~ Luke 2: 22-40 ~~~ 

 

Simeon and the prophetess Anna had been patiently waiting in the temple for the Lord.

Today's Gospel gives us the rare glimpse of a woman praying and fasting

within the temple proper itself.

Anna lived and prayed their for most of her life.

You might consider her a consecrated female since the death of her husband.

The two of them were faithful to the promises of the Lord.

 

"...Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life..."

 

We do not have any reason to believe that Simeon and Anna feared death,

but after seeing Jesus in the Temple that day they were

content to die.

What they had been waiting for most of their life had come to pass.

They were blessed with the presence of the Lord in the Temple.

They both had been guided to wait there in the temple.

 

"...It had been revealed to him (Simeon) by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord."

 

 Imagine the surprise of Mary and Joseph hearing Simeon presenting himself

for God to take just for seeing their son, Jesus.

He goes on to prepare them for the heartache

they were going to experience in the coming days.

 

As a mother I cannot imagine being told of future heartaches concerning my child.

There is a good reason why we are not given the privilege of seeing the future.

For most people it would be too overwhelming.

 

I do wonder how Mary and Joseph were able to hear these prophecies

and continue to experience the joy of their son, Jesus.

Being told a sword would pierce your heart...

"—and you yourself a sword will pierce—
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

 

 

The thoughts of many hearts may be revealed...Mary must have been

confused as to what those words really meant.

 

I like to think that when I come to Mary in prayer she has an understanding

of my prayer already in her heart.

She was given insight into what troubles our hearts most.

She has the insight of a mother's love.

 

After leaving the temple they must have been filled with joy.

They must have also had heavy hearts trying to understand the words

that had been spoken to them about their child.

How could they make sense of how prophetic the words were to become.

 

'...they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him...'

Jesus grew as every normal child does.

He becomes strong working with Joseph in the carpentry business.

Most importantly he was filled with wisdom and the favor of God was upon him.

This is where his development as a human takes a turn toward the divine.

 

Not every person is filled with wisdom

and few are blessed with the favor of God.

 

Simeon and Anna waited in the temple for this special presentation.

Mary and Joseph came to the temple following the prescribed Jewish law.

They left the temple as changed human beings.

 

We too hope to be changed when in the presence of the Lord.

We too can be changed in the temple (church), for this is the place

were the holy one resides.

 

The child Jesus leaves the temple with his parents;

he grows in wisdom and favor outside of the temple.

He was filled with the favor of God.

 

Dear Lord, grant me the wisdom to be a better Christian.

Grant that I may be always be held in your favor through my words and actions.

 

Purification: The Refiner's Fire

Malachi 3: 1-4

In this reading we have the beautiful image of the refiner's fire. "...He will sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi..." A refiner's fire does not consume like a typical fire. A refiner's fire purifies. A refiner's fire removes the impurities. A refiner's fire changes the substance without consuming it's essence. This is what Jesus does for us if we allow him to work on our inside...our very essence. He can remove the impurities, our sins, if we but come to him. To me gives new meaning to the verse from the Emmaus gospel; "...Were not our hearts burning?" We must have this burning desire in our hearts for God to purify us in spite of the pain we may experience.

Most people have a healthy fear and respect for the flame of fire. This thought of the Lord refining our soul may be a frightening image to contemplate. Giving up our sin can be a painful frightening decision. We are often comfortable remaining in our sins especially if we think they are not effecting others. Which of course is not true since we are all a part of the Body of Christ.

Only the Divine Refiner can purify our souls and lead us to the kingdom of God. Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.

There is a beautiful song called The Refiner's Fire check out YouTube later.

Luke 2: 22-40

The reading from the gospel of Luke also touches on purification. In ancient times a woman had to wait for a prescribes length of time before she was allowed to return to the temple. Mary's purification is complete so she and Joseph can now present their son to the Lord in the temple. Within the temple is where they encounter the devout man, Simeon. Simeon had been patiently waiting for many years to see the Christ of the Lord. He receives the child, Jesus into his open hands. We have the opportunity to open our hands and receive Jesus each time we receive Eucharist.

Simeon reveals to Mary that her life will be filled with sadness. The immense sadness as we know of losing her son, Jesus, in the most public, cruel, and humiliating way...the crucifixion. How would you feel if a perfect stranger told you your heart would be pierced by a sword? I can only imagine how Mary must have felt hearing those words and looking at her beloved son.

I wonder how she was able to put those words out of her mind and continue to go about the daily tasks of her life? I know from experience it is hard not to constantly focus on those things which are disturbing, especially when they concern those you love or yourself.

Did Anna, the temple prophetess, come forward to comfort Mary? At eighty-four Anna had gained the wisdom and compassion of having lived much life. She had know the sorrow and pain of losing her husband seven years prior.

Out of pain and suffering great joy can come forth not just for Jesus by his Resurrection, but us as well. We do not know what joy can come from the refiner's fire. We do know what joy can come as a result from our pain and suffering.

Some things are meant to be kept in your heart.

Wisdom 3: 6-7

 "...As gold in the furnace, he proved them...he took them to himself...in the time of their visitation they shall shine, and shall dart about as sparks through the stubble..."

In eternity we shall dart about like sparks purified by The Refiner's Holy Fire.

I chose the original image of a burning fire because a refiner does make use of the consuming flames.

This kaleidoscope image to me captures the purification as white sparks coming from within the the pure center of God's love for us.

Where does your life need purification?