Sunday, February 2, 2025
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Hands
When the days were complete Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.
Here is Joseph, holding their tiny child in his big, work-worn hands. Here is Mary, holding the arm of her husband as they enter the temple in Jerusalem, dressed in their Sunday best.
Suddenly there will come to the temple the Lord whom you seek! But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears, for he is like the refiner’s fire.
So much larger than life this temple, so intended to honor God but in the process make his children feel smaller than small. Is that what God intends? Of course not.
He will purify the sons of Levi, refining them like gold and silver that they may offer right sacrifice unto the Lord, as in the days of old, as in years gone by.
And here is Jesus, small as his Father is large, creator of heaven and earth, worshipped even as he worships … and here we all are – remembering, anticipating, held and holding whatever we have been given.
When I feel small
and inconsequential
        I look at my hands.
                 What they have done through the years
is not there,
        it is woven into the warp of history.
                 Generations hold those things now,
hold me.
        I am among them.
                 I am all of them.
I take a breath:
        the sky breathes into me
                 and out of me, I am sky.
My breath leaves me,
        as if I am dead and buried
                I am earth.
I am not small,
        I am the whole world,
                 in my part of it.
The heart of Creation beats in me,
        the DNA of the universe
                 furled in the cell of me,
the whole Body present
        in the hand I am,
                 I, the song that contains the world.
Myself is tiny, but I,
        I am vast, if I listen, the whole Mystery
                 in the Word of me. – Steve Garnaas-Holmes
The Holy Family approached Simeon and his near blind eyes dimly saw Mary, and Joseph, and the babe. He felt their presence. In the Spirit he knew these people. Simeon took Jesus into his arms, blessed the Son and blessed the Father.
Lord, now lettest thy servant depart in peace according to thy word,
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people,
A light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.
Simeon warned Mary of the sword that would pierce her. Anna spoke to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem. The family returned then, not to Bethlehem but to Nazareth, amazed at what they had seen and heard.
And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him.
(Malachi 3, Psalm 24, Hebrews 2, Luke 2)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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