Ave Maria!

Today, the great feast of lights, Candlemas, also known as the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of the Madonna, is a day of the fulfillment of a great mystery, hidden from times past, but now revealed to us in Christ.

“And presently the Lord, whom you seek, and the Angel of the testament, whom you desire, shall come to His Temple. Behold He cometh, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Mal 3:1)

Filled with the Holy Spirit, Holy Simeon is impelled to enter the Temple. He had been promised to see the Messias before he died and today was that happy day. He was so overwhelmed by this grace and so aware of whom he held in his arms that he exclaimed:

“Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace;

because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples:

a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and a glory for Thy people Israel.” (Lk 2:29-32)

Of this mystery St. Augustine writes that Simeon… “Differabatur exire de saeculo, ut videret natum, per quem conditum est saeculum — he deferred leaving this world in order that he might see Him born by whom the world was created” (Sermo 13 de temp. post init.). In the Infant Jesus the Holy Simeon saw his Creator. In fact, as we have clearly shown elsewhere, the entire creation was made in, through and for Christ the Word Incarnate.

The entire universe was made with Christ in mind, modelled on Him. Today He enters the Temple, He who is the supreme Temple of God’s praises: Jesus Christ.

Praised be Jesus Christ!