2024-02-02 00:00:00
By Central Editorial
February 2, 2024 / 12:01 AM
Every February 2 the universal Church celebrates the feast of the Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple. Saint Mary and Saint Joseph take the newborn Jesus to the temple, sacred place, house of God. The presentation of the firstborn son is equivalent to his “consecration”, it is an act of gratitude for the gift received from the hands of the Creator, source of life.
In the temple the meeting of the Holy Family – Jesus, Mary and Joseph – takes place with two elders, faithful adherents of God’s law: Simeon and Anna. That simple event contains deep Christian symbolism: it is the embrace of the Lord with his people, who await the Messiah. That is why the liturgy sings: “You are, Lord, the light that illuminates the nations and the glory of your people, Israel” (Acclamation before the Gospel, Lk 2, 32).
On this day, simultaneously, the ritual purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary is remembered, after having given birth to the Savior.
#Feast #Presentation #Lord