SERMON/HOMILY ON THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD 2 FEBRUARY 2024
SERMON/HOMILY ON THE FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE LORD 2 FEBRUARY 2024 Malachi 3:1-4; Ps.24; Luke 2:22-40 *Bring the little ones to the Lord* Today we celebrate the presentation of Jesus in the temple by Mary and Joseph in obedience to the Mosaic Law. Like the baptism, Jesus by his very nature and mission, had no need to be presented in the temple. To present the first-born male child to the temple means to consecrate the child to God. Critically speaking, Jesus did not need to be consecrated to God since he was God himself. However, from the point of view of salvation, the presentation of Christ in the temple bears some essential relevance. In Jesus, God was presented to God. This was a prefiguration of what happens at the Eucharistic banquet. Christ is the victim that is offered, Christ is the priest offering the gift, and Christ is the Father to whom the gift is offered. The presentation of Christ in the temple, speaks of the law abiding nature of Mary and Joseph. They did not e...