Keep on Loving
Father Phil Paxton, CP
To All,
Sunday is February 2, when the Church celebrates the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, and so, our Scripture readings come from this feast instead of the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The Presentation of the Lord marks the time when the baby Jesus, as the first born male, is presented to God in the Temple in Jerusalem. We have an account of this in our Gospel reading from Luke (2:22-40).
Luke’s account relates some remarkable things when the infant Jesus is brought to the Temple. They encounter an elderly man, Simeon, to whom it had been revealed that he would not leave this earth until he had seen the Messiah. So, led by the Holy Spirit to go to the Temple that day, he sees Jesus, and recognizes that God has made good on His promise. Simeon then comes up to Mary and Joseph and the baby, takes the baby Jesus into his arms and praises God, “for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
Mary and Joseph are again, “amazed at what was said about him.” And then, Simeon speaks to Mary: “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 shall pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” After this, a prophetess named Anna also sees the baby and speaks about Jesus “to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.”
I see this prophecy of Simeon as central to what this feast has to teach us. Jesus was destined for the “fall and rise of many in Israel.” He told many parables about not assuming people were entering the kingdom just because they were rich, or learned in the Law, or because they lived in Jerusalem. He ate with the tax collectors and prostitutes. He touched the lepers to heal them. He spoke to Gentiles and women, and allowed the children to come to Him. He spoke about serving the “least of these.” And because of this, leaders conspired to kill Him. He was a sign that was “contradicted.”
He is a sign that is contradicted today. Yes, there are people who blame religion and the church for all the evils in the world. But I think we have to confess that the sign of God’s love in Jesus Christ is even more contradicted when people of faith get caught up in division and hatred and fear, and even violence, especially toward the “other.” It is contradicted when church people seek power or cling to privilege, or get into “turf wars.”
We are called to testify to, not contradict, the sign of God’s love in Jesus Christ. We are to be like Simeon and Anna, sharing Good News to any who would hear. We are to be like Mary. After hearing what would happen to her, Mary did not give in to fear and abandon Jesus and Joseph. She kept on loving, even when a “sword” did pierce her heart, when she saw Jesus suffer and die on the Cross. When we choose to love someone other than ourselves, crosses will come. But we need to keep on loving, as Mary did. And we are not alone. As it says in our second reading (Hebrews 2:14-18): “Surely he did not help angels but rather the descendants of Abraham; therefore, he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”
May we continue to love, as Mary did, and thereby testify to the sign of God’s love in Jesus Christ.
I welcome any comments or questions. Thanks for your time.
In Christ,
Phil, CP