Malachi 3.1-4

1 See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

 

REFLECTION

 It is interesting to read this prophecy in light of the Gospel reading. I would have thought of John the Baptist as the messenger, but I think of Simeon and Anna as being messengers. Both reflect the joy and the challenge of the Messiah's coming. I have heard it said a number of times, prophecy is not an exact science. We read prophecy in two minds, one is in the hope of their fulfillment and the other is in hindsight, as we see their fulfillment.

 

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Psalm 24

1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it:

the compass of the world and those who dwell therein.

2 For he has founded it upon the seas:

and established it upon the waters.

3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord:

or who shall stand in his holy place?

4 Those who have clean hands and a pure heart:

who have not set their soul upon idols,

nor sworn their oath to a lie.

5 They shall receive blessing from the Lord:

and recompense from the God of their salvation.

6 Of such a kind as this are those who seek him:

those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

7 Lift up your heads, O you gates,

and be lifted up, you everlasting doors:

and the King of glory shall come in.

8 Who is the King of glory?:

the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads, O you gates,

and be lifted up, you everlasting doors:

and the King of glory shall come in.

10 Who is the King of glory?:

the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

 

 

 

Hebrews 2.14-18

14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16 For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

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REFLECTION 

 The writer of this letter to the Hebrews explains for me the reason why God came in human form. We see the writer proclaim the devil and it is interesting that the devil has the power of death. What does that mean for you? I have come to believe there is more to death than the loss of physical life. There are many who live in an emotional and psychological world which at times is worse than physical death. So, the fear of the physical death and the death we live in our minds through emotional and psychological issues are not from God but are used to control and manipulate us away from God. 

This leads to an issue that I believe the writer, for me, is engaging with, the problem about the nature of God and the life of Jesus. On the one hand many do not understand why God would come down in human form. On the other there is the belief that God does not understand their suffering. As the writer explains that God understands the heart of humanity that they need a God who understands their suffering and that the only way to prove that is to come in human form. God comes down for our need, not because God needed to. Strangely, in doing so, God humbles God's self at the cost of respect for God's power.  

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Luke 2.22-40

22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord
23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons.’ 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 ‘Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace,
    according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles
    and for glory to your people Israel.’
33 And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’
36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshipped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. 39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.
40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

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REFLECTION

I see two important points in this reading. That Jesus' parents did all that was required by their law and therefore there can be no question of his being Jewish. The second is that in this act Simeon and Anna acknowledge Jesus as Messiah. In this revelation of joy comes the reality of his coming. He will reveal people's hearts and that his life will come with suffering for him and grief for his mother. Jesus enters in to bring light, but also to experience the reality of human existence. He did not get a better life because he was divine. He was able to bear the hardships because he was in a divine relationship. Our faith does not take away the suffering of life, but in relationship we will be able to live in it and through it.

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