Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord in the Temple. It is one of the Twelve Great Feasts of Orthodoxy. The Synaxarion has the following to say about this feast:
When the most pure Mother and Ever-Virgin Mary’s forty days of purification had been fulfilled, she took her first-born Son to Jerusalem on this, the fortieth day after His birth, that she might present Him in the temple according to the Law of Moses, which teaches that every first-born male child be dedicated to God, and also that she might offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtle-doves or two young pigeons, as required by the Law (Luke 2:22-24; Exod. 13:2; Lev. 12:6-8). On this same day, a just and devout man, the greatly aged Symeon, was also present in the temple, being guided by the Holy Spirit. For a long time, this man had been awaiting the salvation of God, and he had been informed by divine revelation that he would not die until he beheld the Lord’s Christ. Thus, when he beheld Him at that time and took Him up into his aged arms, he gave glory to God, singing: “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Master. . .” And he confessed that he would close his eyes joyfully, since he had seen the Light of revelation for the nations and the Glory of Israel (Luke 2:25-32). From ancient times, the Holy Church has retained this tradition of the churching of the mother and new-born child on the fortieth day and of the reading of prayers of purification.
Father Orthoduck is sorry that this Feast is basically no longer observed publicly in the West. The story, the prophecies, the bewilderment of the Virgin Mary are all quite dramatic. More than that, it also shows that from early days, there were signs that pointed to Our Lord’s coming ministry.
It is from this passage that we deduce that the Holy Family had fallen on some hard times, for Leviticus says:
These are the regulations for the woman who gives birth to a boy or a girl. But 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. In this way the priest will make atonement for her, and she will be clean.
Mary and Joseph gave the offering of those who cannot afford something better. We do not know if this means that the unexpected trip to Jerusalem had drained them. We do know that God saw fit to replenish their finances by sending the Magi with gifts that certainly financed their journey and stay in Egypt. Nevertheless, they also were not fully poor either. Read the passage about the Magi and you will see that they found the Holy Family in a house that they had rented. By the time that Our Lord Jesus is 12, the family travels in a large clan-group and appears to have no financial problems at that time. So, be cautious in making too many assumptions based on the offering of two doves.
But, it is Simeon’s Prayer that has also lasted for a long time. That prayer is found in Great Vespers. It is found among the Anglicans in their Evening Prayer. It is found among those Roman Catholics who keep the Hours. It is found in Compline and Little Compline. That prayer is actually found in more places than the Magnificat. Finally, it is the prayer that an Orthodox priest is supposed to pray as he takes his vestments off after the Divine Liturgy:
Lord, now lettest thou 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.
May it be so for all of us.
I was at Vespers last night and learned so much from what you said about this wonderful Feast, I now understand better why we wait the 40 days after having a baby to return to church. Thank you Father, your teaching was wonderful, the Prayer of St. Symeon will also mean so much more to me.