Recognize the Lord | The Word of the Lord with Fr. Rector | Feast, The Presentation of the Lord

Father Rector reflects on the Gospel [Luke 2.22-40] on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. He mentioned, “The Presentation in the Temple was about two important things: (1) The purification of Mary; (2) and the redemption of Jesus…” He continued, “In the narrative of the Presentation, there was never a mention about Mary and Joseph ‘paying’ the five shekels to redeem Jesus…” As an explanation to that he quoted, Pope Benedict XVI who wrote in his book, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives that ‘St. Luke leaves a literary silence in the passage to drive home the point that the infant Jesus belongs to His Heavenly Father.’
Father Rector continued by saying: “Simeon and Anna recognized the presence of the divine Child among them…They were attentive as to how God comes to them in the person of Jesus…this feast is inviting us to be more attentive in recognizing God’s presence among us like the attentiveness of Simeon and Anna…”
Lastly, Father Rector mentioned: “Here are the challenge and invitation for us: to continue to recognize the Lord’s presence among us and when we are able to recognize him and experience his blessings upon us, may we too proclaim our knowledge of him and tell others of his goodness to his people.”
Watch and listen! Prepare to celebrate the Liturgy of the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord!