The Presentation of Jesus

Today, February 2, the Church celebrates the Feast of the presentation of Our Lord Jesus in the Temple in both East and West. In the Byzantine Churches, it is referred to as the "Purification of the Blessed Virgin" called "Hypapente to Kyriou" in Greek (i.e. the meeting of the Lord and his mother with Simeon and Anna). According to scholarly articles written in The Catholic Encyclopedia, the first solemn introduction of Christ into the house of God was in the earliest times celebrated in the Church of Jerusalem. In Leveticus, the Law of Moses requires the mother of a male to be purified in the Temple after 40 days of his birth (Leveticus 12:2-8). "Fourty" is also symbolic in Jewish Tradition that awaits the advent of the Messiah (Cf. Moses awaits for 40 days to see the Lord on Mount Sinai). Driven by the Spirit, Jesus fasted for forty days during which he was tempted by the Devil who left Christ for an opportune time until after the Last Supper Jesus was left alone praying in Gethsemane while Judas planned to betray him (Luke 4:13;  Luke 22:44). In the Gospel according to St. Luke, it is written "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 the 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.' " (Luke 2: 22-35). Here is Jesus; the salvation and light for all nations - the "Sun of Justice" brought to light through Mary the "Morning Star"...Christ risen from the dead is the "Glory for Israel" (i.e. the People of God). Christ was destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel - He reveals the truth and founds the New Israel through his Apostles and disciples "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age." (Matthew 28: 19, 20). And his mother the ever-Virgin immaculate Mary accepted the sword that would pierce her soul...It is the sorrow she felt when she was under the cross as she saw her son put to death as a criminal while 4 centuries later this same God and Christ is described by repentant St. Augustine in his Confessions "Late have I loved you O ancient beauty and New". Her joy was complete when she saw her son again after he rose from the dead and ascended bodily to heaven. Or is it probably that heaven came to earth?