The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord (Fourth Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary) 40 days after the Nativity of the Lord (Third Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary). After he was circumcised on the 8th day from his birth (Luke 2:21) to mark him as a son of Abraham and as a sign of the covenant that God made with Abraham (Genesis 17:1-14), Jesus was presented to God in the Temple to be consecrated as the firstborn son of Mary and Joseph, as commanded by God (Exodus 13:2,12) in grateful memory of God redeeming His firstborn, Israel, from slavery in Egypt (Exodus 4:21-23; 11:1-10;12:24-36).
Mary, however, had to wait at least 40 days to bring baby Jesus to the Temple for his consecration to God from his birth, because she had to seclude herself for 40 days in observance of the postpartum purification law for giving birth to a boy (Leviticus 12:2-4). This legal requirement reflects that genital discharge is unclean and requires purification (Leviticus 15:1-33).
Mary and Joseph, with baby Jesus, came to the Temple in Jerusalem, not only to present Jesus there to God for consecration (Exodus 13:2,12) but also for Mary’s postpartum purification ritual according to the Law (Leviticus 12:6-8). In Mary and Joseph’s case, they were not able to afford a yearling lamb for a burnt offering and a pigeon or a turtledove for a purification offering (Leviticus 12:6), they offered a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, instead (Luke 2:24), as this option was allowed by the Law to those who could not afford a lamb and a pigeons (Leviticus 12:8).
Having completed Mary’s postpartum purification, being a faithful Jewish couple, Mary and Joseph presented their firstborn son, Jesus, to God in the Temple, according to these words of God:
Consecrate to me every firstborn; whatever opens the womb among the Israelites, whether of human being or beast, belongs to me (Exodus 13:2).
When the Lord, your God, has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, just as he swore to you and your ancestors, and gives it to you, you will dedicate to the Lord every newborn that opens the womb; and every firstborn male of your animals will belong to the Lord (Exodus 13:11-12).
And God explains why He demands firstborn sons of Israel to be consecrated to Him:
When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, the firstborn of human being and beast alike. That is why I sacrifice to the Lord every male that opens the womb, and why I ransom every firstborn of my sons (Exodus 13:15).
The Law of presenting firstborn sons of Israel to God for consecration (Exodus 13:2, 12) is based on God’s redemption of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, while killing firstborns in Egypt (Exodus 11:1-10), based on these words of God:
The Lord said to Moses: On your return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart and he will not let the people go. So you will say to Pharaoh, Thus says the Lord: Israel is my son, my firstborn. I said to you: Let my son go, that he may serve me. Since you refused to let him go, I will kill your son, your firstborn (Exodus 4:21-23).
Upon killing firstborns in Egypt (Exodus 11:1-10), God redeemed the Israelites, who were figuratively God’s firstborn, thus, represented by firstborn sons of Israel (Exodus4:21-23; cf. Jeremiah 31:9), out of slavery in Egypt through Passover (Exodus 12:1-51).
Then, Simeon recognized baby Jesus being consecrated to God as the Messiah (Christ), blessed this Holy Family, and prophesized what this Messiah baby would bring in the fullness of time and how it would impact Mary (Luke 2:25-35). And Anna also acknowledged baby Jesus as the Messiah to redeem Jerusalem (Luke 2:36-38).
Simeon came into the Temple in the Holy Spirit when Mary and Joseph brought baby Jesus for consecration (Luke 2:27). This was to witness a fulfillment of a prophecy on the coming of the Messiah to the Temple (Malachi 3:1, NABRE), as he saw the Messiah in the Temple. This is another example of how the Holy Spirit can enable a faithful person see what God reveals while others cannot see, as it was the case with Elizabeth recognizing the Son of God in Mary’s womb during the Visitation (Second Joyful Mystery of the Holy Rosary)(Luke 1:41-43). In contrast, Anna, a prophetess, remaining in the Temple, worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer (Luke 2:36-37). Because of the gift of prophecy in her, Anna could see what God revealed (i.e. Amos 3:7) – the Messiah appearing in the Temple. So, she also came forward and thanked God and spoke about baby Jesus as the Messiah to those who had been waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2:38; cf. Isaiah 52:9).
Holding baby Jesus and blessing God (Luke 2:28), Simeon prophesized on this Messiah baby:
Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel (Luke 2:29-32).
For Simeon, a devout old Jewish man with the Holy Spirit, waiting for the Messiah to bring consolation to Israel (Luke 2:25; cf. Isaiah 40:1-2), it was a theophanic joy to see and hold the long-awaited Messiah manifesting in his arms. As the Holy Spirit had revealed that he would see the Messiah during his lifetime (Luke 2:26), witnessing the very presence of the Messiah, held in his arms, fulfilled Simeon’s life with a salvific hope. Thus, to him, there was no more waiting for the Messiah. Out of relief and contentment, Simeon said, " Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine”( Now, Master, you may let your servant go)(Luke 2:29a). From these words of Simeon in vulgate Latin, his canticle (Luke 2:29-32) is titled “Nunc Dimittis” (Now Dismiss).
He sees Jesus not only for consolation of Israel (Luke 2:25; cf. Isaiah 40:1-2) but also salvation for all peoples (Luke 2:30-31; cf. Isaiah 52:10; cf. Psalm 67:8; 98:3). In addition, Simeon also foresaw baby Jesus as the Messiah as a light of revelation also to te Gentiles and glory for the Israelites (Luke 2:32). Indeed, while he was a newborn baby, Jesus was already a light to the Gentiles, guiding the Magi from the east to where he was manifested (Matthew 2:1-11). And, he identifies himself as the light of the world (John 8:12), as well as, a great light over the land of gloom to bring abundant joy as a Davidic King (Isaiah 9:1-6).
To Mary, Simeon said:
Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Luke 2:34-35).
Simeon foresaw Jesus’ Messianic role as bringing judgermen to sort those who are saved and those who are condemned, saying “the fall and rise of many in Israel” (Luke 2:34; cf. Luke 12:51; Isaiah 8:14; John 9:39; Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 1:23; 1 Peter 2:7-8). He also saw Jesus as a contradicted sign (Luke 2:35), as he would defy a Messianic expectation of many (e.g. Luke 23:39). Because of this, many would not see Jesus as the Messiah but rather a blasphemous lunatic (Matthew 26:55-68), resulting in his crucifixion (Matthew 27:1-56). And seeing her firstborn son being tortured and executed by crucifixion, Mary would suffer as a sword piercing her heart. This insight of Simeon by seeing baby Jesus in the Temple is reflected in the First Reading (Malachi 3:1-4).
Though the consecrated Jesus would bring great suffering to his mother, Mary, the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Luke 2:35). “The thoughts of many hearts” can refer to the wickedness people keep in their hearts. Even it is hidden in hearts, people’s wickedness shall be revealed, as it is in God’s will (i.e. Jeremiah 13:26). In fact, Jesus exposed hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the Scribes publicly and anathematizingly (Matthew 15:1-9; 23:1-36). “The thoughts of many hearts” may also suggest that many would be awaken to the Messianic truth in him and go through conversion of their hearts so that they would be drawn to him (i.e. John 12:32). It is because we are created in God’s Triune image (Genesis 1:26-27). By coming to us, being incarnated in the human flesh of Jesus (John 1:1, 14; Luke 1:30-33, 35; 2:7), the Messiah (Christ), the firstborn of all creation, has become the visible image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15; cf. Psalm 89:28; 2 Corinthians 4:4). This reminds us that our hearts’ deep desire is to seek him (Isaiah 55:6-7; Colossians 3:1) to be one with him (i.e. John 14:20; 17:20-23). For those who turn to Him, God can make our hearts fit for His covenant (i.e. Ezekiel 11:19; 36:26; Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10) so that our hearts do not harbor evil. Then, the Messiah (Christ) can dwell in our hearts (Ephesians 3:17) and our faith in him reaches to the depth of our hearts (i.e. Romans 10:10-17). When this is revealed, the Messiah can be revealed through our loving and faithful hearts.
Then, we recognize that he is our Abrahamic brother, and love him, for he has saved us from sin by suffering and dying in our place to atone with God, grieving Mary deeply, out of his love for us and his faithfulness to the Father, making us capable to be refined through our trials. And this is reflected in the Second Reading (Hebrew 2:14-18) in connection to the First Reading (Malachi 3:1-4) and the Gospel Reading (Luke 2:22-40), especially in Simeon’s prophecy (Luke 2:29-32, 34-35).
The Presentation of the Lord, therefore, expresses the Holy Family's gratefulness to God for redeeming His firstborn nation, Israel, from the slavery in Egypt, as consecrating the firtborn son of Mary and Joseph. And as Simeon prophesized, this firstborn son of the Holy Family, the firstborn of all creation, is to be sacrified to redeem us from the enslavement of sin so that the hearts of those who are saved are revealed. And it is Christ dwelling in our hearts, as we are one with him, as Abragamic brothers and sisters with him. But for this, Mary's heart has to be pierced with grief. Indeed, the Presentation of the Lord foreshadows the Cross of the Lord for our redemption to be one with him.
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