Presentation of the Lord (February 2, 2015) 
Salesian Perspective
In our first reading today, the prophet Malachi speaks about the coming of the Lord to the Temple. All the people seek the Lord’s coming, for he will bring judgment and purification, turning them toward pleasing the Lord.
St. Luke’s record of the coming of the Lord to the Temple doesn’t quite seem to fit Malachi’s picture at first hearing. Yet if we look a little deeper, we can see foreshadowing of Malachi’s prophecy.
Simeon recognizes in the child Jesus the fulfillment of God’s promise of a Messiah. He announces that the child in his arms will be a “revealing light to the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people Israel.” He also tells Mary that her child is destined to be opposed. His life and death will cause some to fall and others to rise. He will lay everyone’s thoughts bare as final Judge.
Today’s reading from the letter to the Hebrews helps us to understand what’s behind the words of Simeon. The writer takes great pains to try to explain why Jesus is the perfect mediator-priest. As he tells us, Jesus was flesh and blood, fully human as you and I are. He became like us in every way, so that he might be our merciful and faithful high priest before God on our behalf. Since He was both human and divine, he could offer a sacrifice worthy of expiating the sins of the entire world. By his death on the cross, he was able to rob the devil of his power and free us from the fear of eternal death due to sin.
But for Jesus, atonement for our sins wasn’t enough. He also wanted us to know that he had shared our experience of suffering, so he can understand us when we turn to him in our suffering. Jesus is truly our brother; he is also our Savior. We can confidently approach him for he is God’s mercy and compassion incarnate. He is always interceding for us. He is light for us in our darkness, and glory for us in our suffering. He will be true to his promise of sharing with us his glory.
The child in Simeon’s arms is the same Jesus we hold in our hearts. We can have the same confidence that Simeon had: “Now, Master, I can live and die in peace; you have fulfilled your promise. My eyes have witnessed your saving deed in Jesus. He is my light and my glory.” So let us confidently take hold of Jesus each day and let him be our light as we journey with him in the darkness of this life today and every day.