Michele Kearney's Snuffysmith's Blog

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Bishop Barron's Gospel Reflection February 2, 2020

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Luke 2:22-40

Friends, our Gospel today celebrates the Presentation of the Lord in the temple. We are meant to understand that the glory of Yahweh is returning to the temple in the arms of Mary and Joseph, thus fulfilling one of the deepest aspirations of Israel’s people.
Now, there is more to this story than the return of the Lord to his temple. The Son of God, having taken to himself a human nature, is presented to the Father, and thereby the human race is brought back on line. This little baby is the reconciliation of divinity and humanity, is the very essence of temple sacrifice.
At the climax of his life, this baby, now come of age, would enter the temple again. This time, he would pass judgment on it and declare his own body as the new Temple. A few days later, on the cross, he would perform the final temple sacrifice, offering himself to the Father, even as he bore the sins of the human race.
The Presentation of Jesus in the temple, perfected on the cross, is re-presented every time the Mass is celebrated. The Presentation of the Lord goes on now in our churches, in our temples.

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Lectionary: 524

Reading 1 Mal 3:1-4

Thus says the Lord GOD:
Lo, I am sending my messenger
to prepare the way before me;
And suddenly there will come to the temple
the LORD whom you seek,
And the messenger of the covenant whom you desire.
Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.
But who will endure the day of his coming?
And who can stand when he appears?
For he is like the refiner’s fire,
or like the fuller’s lye.
He will sit refining and purifying silver,
and he will purify the sons of Levi,
Refining them like gold or like silver
that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD.
Then the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem
will please the LORD,
as in the days of old, as in years gone by.

Reading 2 Heb 2:14-18

Since the children share in blood and flesh,
Jesus likewise shared in them,
that through death he might destroy the one
who has the power of death, that is, the Devil,
and free those who through fear of death
had been subject to slavery all their life.
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.

Gospel Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
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,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”
The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;
and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
“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 will pierce--
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
There was also a prophetess, Anna,
the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.
She was advanced in years,
having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,
and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.
She never left the temple,
but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.
And coming forward at that very time,
she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child
to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.
When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions
of the law of the Lord,
they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;
and the favor of God was upon him.
or
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
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,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.
This man was righteous and devout,
awaiting the consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit
that he should not see death
before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.
He came in the Spirit into the temple;
and when the parents brought in the child Jesus
to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,
he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:
“Now, Master, you may let your servant go
in peace, according to your word,
for my eyes have seen your salvation,
which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and glory for your people Israel.”

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Haaretz Op Eds of the Week re: Trump Peace Plan

Opinion Editor's Choice

The most important Haaretz op-eds of the week, as chosen by Opinion Editor Esther Solomon.

View in browser

Sign up to Trump's peace plan, sign away Israel's special status in America
By giving Israel a green light to do whatever it wants, the Trump plan threatens its very future as a democracy. The damage to how Democrats view Israel could be profound
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America's neo-Nazi Terrorists Have a Powerful New Patron: Vladimir Putin
Violent ultranationalists (like the paramilitary race war inciters 'The Base') dedicated to destabilizing America are finding ideological common ground, aid and shelter in Putin’s Russia
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Sorry, Jared, This Time It’s Not the Palestinians Who Have 'Screwed Up,' It’s You
When Kushner accused the Palestinians of 'screwing up another opportunity,' he not only overlooked Israel’s own screw-ups, but mischaracterized the Trump plan as an opportunity for peace
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Why Trump's Apartheid Peace Plan Is So Dangerous – and Not Only for Palestine
Last Palestinian envoy to DC: The diehard settlement-supporting Trump team have launched a flagrant attack on international law, with repercussions far beyond Palestine
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Israel, Beware the True Cost of Trump's 'Peace' Plan
If Netanyahu adopts a plan that greenlights unilateral annexation, he should acknowledge what's at stake. Setting Israel up for an immediate clash with a Democratic president is only the beginning
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Trump's Peace Plan Means Settlements Are Permanent. Democrats, Get Used to It
Even if Democrats win in 2020, they won't be able to reverse the core terms of Trump's peace plan; U.S. leverage over Israel will have diminished. This is why
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Trump's Mideast Plan Is a Recipe for War, Not Peace
Trump’s 'peace plan' endorses the doctrine that might is always right. Palestinians cannot engage with these fictional negotiations, with this U.S. administration – and with a bullying Israel
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U.S. Jews think the Trump Plan is Very Bad. I’m Giving it a Chance
Trump's one-sided 'vision' to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a serenade to Evangelicals and the Adelsons. But in it, there remains a thin thread of hope
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