Sermon thoughts – Presentation of Child Jesus in the Temple

Sermon thoughts – Presentation of Child Jesus in the Temple

Today is the last day of the classical Christmas Time.
Jesus was presented in the Temple 40 days after his birth.
This feast has got several titles:  

It is celebrated as the day of the Purification of Mother Mary.
On that day Mary too comes to temple to be purified.
Under the Mosaic Law, a woman was ritually “unclean” for 40 days after childbirth. She had to present herself to the priests and offer sacrifice in order to be “purified.”

But this feast emphasizes Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple more than Mary’s purification.
It was also the tradition of Jews to Present and dedicate the first born Male members to Yahweh. This was the commemoration of the freedom from Egyptian Slavery (cfr Ex 13, 1ff).

In the Eastern traditions, this day is considered as the day of “Meeting”.
It can be: Jesus meets Yahweh in the Jerusalem Temple.
Or the old prophet Simeon meets the “Christ” in Jesus.

At the beginning of the eighth century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession; at the end of the same century the blessing and distribution of candles which continues to this day became part of the celebration, giving the feast its popular name: Candlemas.
All these instances are attributing to the words of Jesus:
I am the light of the world”.
Jesus is often mentioned in connection with the “light”.
He heals many blinds. He teaches his followers that they are light (Mt 5, 14) and warns to keep their sight clean and proper (Mt 6, 22f). There are many passages that connects Jesus with light.
His birth had to do with light – a star.
When he dies on cross, it was darkness in the whole land.
Jesus is light
He is the one who purifies us.
He is the one who brings us to God.
Mary and Joseph lived closer to God in the presence of Jesus
Many other lived and experienced God nearer than ever in Jesus.
Through his words and concern they experienced more light in their lives.
As Pp Paul VI says:
“The candle tells us: by burning, and being consumed in the burning. A spark of fire, a ray of love, an inevitable immolation are celebrated over that pure, straight candle, as, pouring forth its gift of light, it exhausts itself in silent sacrifice”

Let us try to bring some light in our presence.
Let us bring people near to God. Amen.

–
Fr Thomas Kalathil

Sermon Thoughts – Epiphany – Year A

Sermon Thoughts – Epiphany – Year A

How the Magi come to the manger?.
If you remember the Gospel:
we see only a king in mentioned there, and it is Herod.
But he did not go to worship Jesus.

Moreover, we call them “kings” but Gospel says, “Magi”, probably meant to wise men, come from distant lands.
They do not belong to the chosen people of Israel.
Obviously, they understood it,
to interpret the signs of the times.

How many were there, is also not mentioned.
Whether it was three or more?
And that they came to Bethlehem can be not that correct at all, then they needed a long time for their journey. The star stood not above the stable, but on a house says Gospel.
So the wise men could have visited, Mary and Joseph in Nazareth and not in Bethlehem.
Then, how come our three wise men to the manger? Something seems wrong.

Well, I don’t want you get confused? And the details are not the issue at all.. For the intention of Evangelist Matthew, the only one who tells this story,
was not to tell an historical event. Matthew is a theologian.
He tells something important for the faith, namely this:
The Messiah was indeed expected from the chosen people of Israel, but when he was there, he was rejected by his own people.
In nutshell: wisdom and power of this world should give priority to God.

Did God come at an “inconvenient” time? It seems so: his presence disturbed Herod and brought him anxiety. Also for the chief priests and scribes, he remained a troublesome rebel.

God is stranger to many people; he is not welcome in our highly technologically advanced time. Many people of our age cannot tolerate His morals and teachings, because they can be an obstacle in their “business”.


God becomes man, that’s Christmas.
Now he “appears” to the people. He is visible.
The world recognizes in Jesus the Son of God.

In the Old Testament, it would be equal to death as no one was meant to look at God.
Now everything is different.
God shows himself and that as a child.
Even then people continue to “live”.
They are not dead..
No, he came to give life…in its fullness…in his fullness.
And with his coming, some learned to live cheerful and lively than before.
Epiphany of the Lord invites us all to the divine life.


Epiphany is not just a celebration in Christmastime.
It should prompt us to ask ourselves every day whether we recognize our God in the people, in their needs, in our prayers, in our churches, in our families …
where ever we are…

And this knowledge should move us to Him. As the magi did.
On that way we can meet him, adore him…
And forget not;
“Herod, the forces against God”, is still waiting for us …
But they must not stop us! Let us pray for that grace! Amen.
-
Fr Thomas Kalathil