We celebrate the Presentation of the Lord and Candlemas on February 2nd, which occurs forty days after the birth of Jesus or Christmas. It is explained in Luke's Gospel 2:22-40 the story of the Presentation of the Lord where Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. They bring a pair of turtledoves to offer a sacrifice and Mary offers herself for the rite of purification (which she did not need being free from sin).
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| Presentation of the Lord from the Sacred Art Series Rosary Flip Book |
The other important part of this story is the prophecy of Simeon, which was explained in Luke 2:25-35. Simeon says to Mary "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed".
Saint Pope John Paul II said in Redemptoris Mater 16 "Simeon's words seem like a second Annunciation to Mary, for they tell her of the actual historical situation in which the Son is to accomplish his mission, namely, in misunderstanding and sorrow. While this announcement on the one hand confirms her faith in the accomplishment of the divine promises of salvation, on the other hand it also reveals to her that she will have to live her obedience of faith in suffering, at the side of the suffering Savior, and that her motherhood will be mysterious and sorrowful".
We studied the Presentation of the Lord in my Women's Bible Study as we examined Mary: A Biblical Walk with the Blessed Mother. Edward Sri explains that in the Presentation of the Lord that we are starting to see that "Mary's suffering is not limited to the intense grief she will experience during her son's passion and death, but begins in the days of Jesus' life when Simeon proclaims that "a sword will pierce through your own soul also" (Luke 2:35)." In studying Mary I think it is beautiful to see her faith, trust and witness as she receives great mystery and suffering with grace and "ponders them in her heart" (Luke 2:19).
Today we did the activity from A Year with God: Celebrating the Liturgical Year where we read the Gospel story from Luke, colored the picture of the Presentation of the Lord and also prayed The Divine Praises. I also love that although we had never celebrated this feast day in our home before that our children knew this story from praying the rosary and listening to their Holy Heroes: Joyful Mysteries CD as it is the meditation for the 4th decade of the Joyful mysteries.
We also made some candles for Candlemas with stickers of Mary and the infant Jesus. It was a fun and easy way to help bring the story of the Presentation of the Lord to life for our children and to understand that Jesus is the light of the world!
"A sword will pierce through your own soul also" (Luke 2:35)." The Seven Sorrows of Mary are depicted in art by the seven swords piercing Mary's heart. What do we do when our "heart is pierced"? How do we respond and answer God? Do we respond like Mary or do we struggle with our faith? What can we do today to answer God's call in our life with trust?
Nunc Dimittis Luke 2:29-32:
"Lord, you now have set your servant free,
to go in peace as you have promised;
For these eyes of mine have seen the Savior,
Whom you have prepared for all the world to see,
A Light to enlighten the nations, and the glory of your people Israel."
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