“In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart.” — John Bunyan.
How many times had children been presented or consecrated to God in fulfillment of the law?
“Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,” today’s Gospel says, “in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.”
This was absolutely routine and expected.
And how many times had the devout Simeon, and Anna the prophetess, been in the very temple when these many ritual routines had taken place?
And yet, today was something completely different.
Simeon, filled with the Spirit, recognized that this child was different and that something very important in Israel and in faith was taking place before his eyes. Simeon was convinced that “now he could die,” since he had now seen that salvation had come to Israel.
This child was the one who had been foretold; Anna, filled with prophecy, saw even more. She saw what this would mean for Israel, how it would affect the people of God, and how God’s hand was upon him.
This presentation or consecration also seemed to open the door and align this child with God in a way that the future was to come through him to be fulfilled, and bring about promises of old while creating something new.
Salvation! Fullness of life! The conquering of sin! Grace in abundance!
It also cemented together the Holy Family in love, grace and wisdom.
Joseph and Mary parented Jesus into his adult life. He continued to grow in grace and wisdom before God and man.
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 14th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at perry.leiker@gmail.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
