Father Valan Arockiaswamy

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HOMILIES

Close Dear Audience,
For better understanding of the spiritual message behind this homily I kindly remind you to first read and contemplate the biblical texts before reading or listening to my preaching - a human reflection on the Word of God!

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Feb 2, 2014 Views 2766 Listen 7 Downloads 0
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First Reading

A reading from the Book of Prophet Malachi (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.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalms of David (24:7, 8, 9, 10)


(R) Who is this king of glory! It is the Lord!

Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (R)

Who is this king of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle. (R)

Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals, that the king of glory may come in! (R)

Who is this king of glory? The Lord of hosts; He is the king of glory. (R)

Second Reading

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Hebrews (2:14-18)

Since the children share the same 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.

(P) The word of the Lord.
(R) Thanks be to God.

Gospel

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (2:22-40)

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 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.

(P) The Gospel of the Lord.
(R) Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Homily

A little boy who is annoyed at his baby brother's crying and screaming asks his mother, "Mom! Where did we get him from anyway?" "Oh! He came from heaven," his mother replies "Well I can see why they threw him out," the boy says.

Over two thousand years ago Mary and Joseph not only believed that their son Jesus was truly from heaven but also offered him back to God. In any culture the birth of a child is an occasion that evokes family, religious, and social traditions. From the time of conception the good news is spread among family and friends and, several ceremonies are held to mark before, during and after the event with music, songs, dance, prayers and food. The birth of Jesus was also greeted with Jewish traditional religious practices. Today's gospel story is a part of the birth of Jesus and, it takes place forty days after his birth in the Temple in Jerusalem. It is called the presentation or dedication of Jesus in the temple.

The origins of the custom of the dedication of a child go back centuries earlier to the time when God delivered the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. In the book of Exodus of the Old Testament we read that God commands Moses to tell Pharaoh to allow the Israelites to leave Egypt. Pharaoh refuses to listen to Moses, and so God sends plagues to demonstrate His power, and teach both the Israelites and as well as the Egyptians a lesson. He sends nine plagues each more drastic than the last but Pharaoh does not relent. Finally, God sends the tenth and last plague, "the death of the first born son in every Egyptian home" which compels Pharaoh to let the people go. Moses then tells the Israelites that, when the Lord brings them safely into the Promised Land, they "must offer every first-born male to the Lord", Exodus (13:11). Moses explains that, as a result of obtaining this freedom, everyone has to "buy back the first born male child", Exodus (13:13) and Numbers (18:15) by going to the Temple, and offering a lamb, or if one is poor, two turtledoves or two young pigeons", Luke (2:24). From that moment, the eldest son is fully consecrated to the service of God. As observant Jews, Mary and Joseph also bring Jesus, their only and first born son, to the temple to fulfil the law. And they offer up a pair of doves or pigeons as a prescribed alternative to the sacrificial lamb. But Jesus is later sacrificed as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

When the sacrifice is completed, Mary and Joseph meet two elderly people in the temple - Simeon and Anna. I would like to invite your attention to these two elderly people. Simeon is described as a righteous and devout man waiting for the redemption of Israel, and the Holy Spirit has told him that he would not die until he has seen the Anointed One of God, Jesus Christ. Anna is an eighty four year old widow and prophetess. She never leaves the temple, but worships night and day with fasting and prayer for the redemption of Israel. When Jesus is brought to them Simeon and Anna immediately recognize that this child is no ordinary child. Simeon takes the infant into his arms and blesses 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 sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles; and glory for your people Israel", Luke (29-32). Whereas Anna sees what transpires with the infant Jesus and Simeon, and thanks God for the child, and begins to tell others the good news. Luke does not tell us Anna's exact words but points out that the message is for those who are awaiting the redemption of Israel.

Scriptures do not mention how long these two people have been waiting for; how many children they have received and blessed in the temple; what they say of the children. But one thing is very clear and that is Simeon and Anna have lived all their lives waiting for the promise of God - the coming of the Messiah. Their hope in the promise of God has been the center of their entire lives. They are very faithful to God and give to God appropriate offerings. While doing all these things, at the same time they wait patiently for the promise of God to be fulfilled. Their prayer, fasting and service in the temple of the Lord are not for their own good, (loneliness, pain and misery) but for the people of God.

Friends, what is the message for us? Their story is a reminder of the saying, "Good things come to those who wait." Simeon and Anna are symbolic figures for all those who walk the long road of faith and who wait on the Lord while holding on to their lives. Like the people of Israel we have also been promised the coming of Christ. Like Simeon and Anna, we are heirs to the promise. Since our baptism we have begun the long journey to see the face of Jesus Christ. But to do so successfully, we must wait patiently, expectantly, eagerly and hopefully. We must continue to do what we are supposed to do. We must be faithful to God and do what is right before God. We must keep looking for Him. We must keep going to worships and saying our prayers. We must keep reading and meditating on the scriptures. We must keep thanking and praising the Lord in all circumstances. Faith is nothing more than believing in God even when we do not see or hear Him all the time.

However, God's promise of redemption does not mean that we will never have problems or suffer from illnesses, rejection or death. Simeon, Anna, Mary, Joseph, Jesus and all believers of God have endured suffering. If we too endure hardships with faith, we will have a great reward like Simeon and Anna. When we see Jesus' face, we will repent for our sins; we will change our life; we will be healed; we will go home to our heavenly Father in peace, just like Simeon who knew it was time for him to go to his heavenly home when he has seen the face of the baby Jesus.

(P) Amen.

God Bless You!

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