When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, they took him 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 named 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 Messiah 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 sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
Luke 2:22-32 (NABRE)
Jesus follows His own law.
It is astonishing to think that the Lord God would be so small and subject Himself to the command of the law that He Himself dictated. Obedience is emphasized, almost absurdly so in this case.
Surrounding the Child Jesus are people exhibiting obedience in their own way. Joseph, Mary, Simeon, and the Temple functionaries all carry out what they have been called to do, and in so doing, they have enabled the continuation of the mission of the Messiah. Joseph provides for his family’s needs; Mary gives Jesus the vital sustenance of a mother’s care; Simeon reminds Joseph, Mary, and all of us of the salvific mission of the Child; and those who labor in the priestly ministry of the Temple advance Jesus’ initiation into the Jewish faith. Everyone is doing their part, and every part is crucial to the faith that we have today.
We can never underestimate the value of our calling. God has deliberately placed each of us in the time and place in which we find themselves for a very important mission. We will not know in this life the impact that we will have had on those around us, from those who we know to those who we have never even met. The narrative of history, overseen and prepared by the Divine Wisdom, is a chain that depends on every link in order to have its full integrity. Every piece is important, and the role you occupy is especially so. Your life will never be replaced. We are all counting on you, and God is with you through it all. Trust in Him!
Thank you for reading. Peace.
Eat the Scroll 