Presentation in the Temple

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."

- Luke 2:21-24

In a previous reading, we reviewed the significance of the name of Jesus, or "Yehoshua" in Hebrew. "Jesus" or "Yehoshua" means "God is Salvation." This is why the name of Jesus alone can be used as a prayer. In today's reading, we read of the important rituals of the Law regarding the birth of a child and its infancy.

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. My study bible notes that because Jesus, as Messiah or Christ, fulfills the Law, he receives circumcision according to the precepts of Mosaic Law. Through his life and ministry, Jesus will be a follower of the Law of Moses. After the Resurrection, my study bible continues, baptism will replace circumcision as the universal sacrament of salvation and initiation into the Church. In the Eastern churches, it remains an ancient tradition to name a child on the eighth day. The significance of the eighth day is something special to consider. In the Genesis story, we recall that God took six days to create the world, and rested upon the seventh. The eighth day, then, becomes a naming day. In the Christian tradition, the "eighth day" becomes Sunday, the day of Resurrection, and is thereby associated with a new time, and apocalyptic understanding. Baptism then becomes an initiation into a new time, in which as Christians we know that we await Jesus' return.

Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord"), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." The "days of her purification" refer to the forty days after a woman gives birth. (See Leviticus 12:2-4 for instructions in the Law regarding a woman having given birth, and the rule of circumcision for a male child.) The custom of introducing the child into Church on the fortieth day became a part of the ancient Church. In many of the Eastern churches, it is traditional for women and their infants - male or female - to come for a blessing on the fortieth day. In the Armenian Apostolic church, the child's baptism is traditionally preferred to be given on (or near) the fortieth day.

Of course, we also recall the "days of purification" of Lent, a process of forty days, which Jesus undertook just after his baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist - and just prior to the beginning of Jesus' own ministry. At that time, Jesus underwent his own purification, by confronting the temptations to use his power in a worldly way, rather than through serving the Father.

Also, in the tradition of the Law, the firstborn son is "holy to the Lord." See Exodus 13:2, 12, 15. A firstborn male child has special significance as primary heir and carrier of patriarchal blessings. My study bible notes that "firstborn" does not necessarily mean others will be born after Jesus, but only that no child was born before him. As "firstborn," we also associate Jesus as Son of God and heir, as he claimed, to all that the Father is, and the name of the Father.

The traditional sacrifice given is an atonement for the necessary purification of the mother under the Law. See Leviticus 12:2,8. I find it interesting to read the following part of this precept (from Lev. 8): "If she cannot afford a lamb, she is to bring two doves or two young pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering." Clearly, we are to understand that this is a poor and lowly family, as they cannot afford the better sacrifice of a lamb, but rather the two turtle doves or pigeons. We recall Jesus' cleansing of the temple when he returns to Jerusalem to begin the events of his Passion. In the passage from Matthew's gospel, we read that Jesus "overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves." He is criticizing those who penalize the poor. In the Church, baptism would replace sacrifice and circumcision.

So, at this time of Jesus' birth, we regard the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. Jesus is named and circumcised, and brought into the temple for the blessing and the sacrifice. He fulfills all the precepts of the Law, as he will throughout his life. But we can read about the seeds of what is to come, and understand how the traditions of the Church would follow and develop in the understanding of who Jesus was. His parents are devout, and every care is taken to observe proper religious practice. And yet, in yesterday's passage just prior to this one in Luke, we know that Mary is treasuring in her heart the great good news given by angelic messenger, not only to herself and Joseph, but to the shepherds who live out in the fields. In that message, this baby they name Jesus was called "Christ the Lord" and "Savior." Christ means, "the Anointed One," the Messiah. My study bible notes, "The title Lord shows He is God; Savior shows that He will save His people from the power of sin and death." And once again, we recall the name given to him on instruction from the angel, "Jesus" - or "God is Salvation." The angels announced to the shepherds, we read in yesterday's passage, that Jesus comes to bring peace and goodwill toward men. This Savior is, as my study bible puts it, "the incarnate love of God, reconciling humanity to God and people to each other." What Mary treasures in her heart is the good news of the birth of this child, even as she and her husband in their devotion and humility follow all the proper precepts of the Law. In this small story of the birth of this child, we have the early signs of fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets: the observance of the Laws of Moses and the fulfillment of Mercy, in the spirit of the Prophets. May you be blessed with wonder at this time, at all the mystery and beauty of this birth, and the poetry of this early life. And once again, we remember the words of Mary's Magnificat: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour," who "has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant ... and lifted up the lowly."