# A Practical Commentary on Holy Scripture/Part 2/Chapter 7

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Freiburg am Breisgau / London, W. C. / St. Louis, MO: B. Herder, pages 405–411
Chapter VII.
THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE.
[Luke 2, 22—38.]
FORTY days after His birth, Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord, ​as the law of Moses prescribed. They carried with them the usual offering of the poor, a pair of turtle-doves.
There was at that time in Jerusalem a just and God-fearing
Fig. 66. The Temple of Herod
1. Temple. 2. Fort Antonia. 3. Gate of Nicanor. 4. Hall of Solomon. 5. The Golden Gate. 6. Outer Pinnacle. 7. Royal Hall. 8. Hulda Gates. 9. Subterranean Passage to the Lower City. 10. Gate for Suburb. 11. Bridge to Upper City. 12. Valley of Tyropœon. 13. Valley of Cedron. 14. Stone Palings with Inscriptions. 15. Steps to the Forcer.
should not die till he had seen the Christ of the Lord. Led by the Spirit, he came that day to the Temple, and seeing the Child brought in by Mary and Joseph, he took Him in his arms, and blessed God, saying:
“Now Thou dost dismiss Thy servant, O Lord, according to Thy word, in peace: because my eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples; a light to the revelation of the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel.”
He then blessed Joseph and Mary, who wondered at these things, and to Mary he said: “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted. And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that out of many hearts thoughts may be revealed.”
​There was also in Jerusalem a prophetess named Anna — a woman far advanced in years, who departed not from the Temple — by prayer and fasting serving the Lord night and day. She also coming in, and seeing the Child, gave praise to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all who were looking for the Redemption of Israel. And when these things were accomplished in obedience to the law of God, Mary and Joseph, with the Divine Babe, returned to Galilee, to their own city of Nazareth, and dwelt there in peace.
COMMENTARY.
The Faithfulness of God. By the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the prophecy of Aggeus (Old Test. LXXX) was fulfilled.
Jesus is the Messias. The Holy Ghost revealed Him as such to Simeon, who, full of joy, greeted Him as the Saviour of all men, and the Light of revelation to the Gentiles.
Jesus is God. Anna, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, testified to this, when she extolled the Child as “the Lord”, and joyfully announced that in this Child God had revealed Himself as the Redeemer.
Faith is a gift of God. It was only by the help of the Holy Ghost that Simeon and Anna were enabled to recognise in the Child Jesus the Divine Saviour of the whole world, of Gentiles as well as Jews.
Good works. Simeon and Anna obtained the great grace of faith in our Lord’s Divinity by a faithful observance of the law, by fasting and prayer, and a great inward desire for His coming.
Belief in Jesus Christ drives away all fear of death. Simeon now rejoiced at the prospect of death. Such a sensation was hitherto unknown in Israel. “Pious Israelites closed their eyes in death, weary of life and submissive to God’s will; not altogether hopeless, but full of horror of the future. Death was a thing to be feared, and each new day of life which was granted was looked on as a gain” (Grimm). But ​all at once every thing was changed. Holy Simeon had seen the Saviour, and was now ready to die joyfully. In fact, he did die very soon after; a pious tradition even goes so far as to say that he died before he left the Temple. He was thus the first to take the joyful news to Limbo that the Saviour was born and the day of salvation at hand.
Humility and obedience of Mary. Mary was without sin, therefore she needed no purification. Nevertheless she remained excluded from the Temple for forty days just as if she were an ordinary, sinful mother, and submitted to the law of purification which in no way applied to the most pure Mother of God. Her humility made her wish to appear in the eyes of the world as an ordinary, sinful woman. She wished, moreover, to give an example of obedience to the precepts of the law, her love of her fellow-creatures making her shrink from being a cause of offence and giving scandal by any neglect of the legal purification.
The Feast of our Lady's Purification, or Candlemas. We keep a feast on the 2nd of February, forty days after Christmas, in memory of our Lord’s Presentation in the Temple. This feast has several names. First, it is known as the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus. Secondly, it is called the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary. But the usual and popular name for this Feast is Candlemas-day, because on this day candles are blessed before Mass, and there takes place a procession with lighted candles. Candles are blessed and lighted on this particular feast, because on it Simeon acknowledged and confessed Christ to be “the Light of the world”.
The dolours of Mary. Mary is, as the Holy Ghost foretold by the mouth of Simeon, the Mother of sorrows, feeling in her own heart all the sufferings of her Divine Son. The dolours of Mary are usually enumerated as follows: i. the prophecy of Simeon, 2. the flight into Egypt, 3. the loss of the Child Jesus for three days when He was twelve years old, 4. the meeting with Jesus, carrying His Cross, 5. the Crucifixion and death of Jesus, 6. the taking down from the Cross, 7. the Burial of Jesus. Mary suffered for a longer time and more acutely than any of the holy martyrs, and therefore she is called the Queen of martyrs.
The “Contradiction” of Jesus. In what way has Simeon’s prophecy that our Lord should be a “sign of contradiction” been fulfilled? Even when He was an Infant, He was persecuted by Herod, and had to flee. When He began His public life, He met with the greatest opposition, especially from the Pharisees and Sadducees. The inhabitants of Nazareth thrust Him out of their city (chapter XVII). The Pharisees slandered Him and said He was in league with the devil (chapter XXVII); and, on the Feast of the Dedication of the Temple, the Jews wished to stone Him as a blasphemer (chapter LIII). He was accused before Pilate of being a seducer of the people &c.; and His enemies never rested till He was nailed upon the Cross. Even after His Resurrection the opposition to His doctrine and His Church continued. “Christ crucified, ​unto the Jews indeed a stumbling-block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness, but unto them that are called, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1, 23. 24). And this contradiction on the part of the unbelieving will continue till Christ comes again to judge the world.
The testimony of the Holy Ghost. There had been no prophets in Israel since Malachias; but as soon as the Messias had appeared, the gift of prophecy was richly bestowed on those who believed. Zachary, Elizabeth, Mary, Simeon and Anna, all proclaimed the goodness of God, who had given His only begotten Son for the salvation of the world. “For four hundred years the spirit of prophecy had been dumb in Israel: it was a long and dreary winter, but it was followed by the most glorious spring-tide! Song filled the air; for He had come whose name was Wonderful! The angel Gabriel, Mary, Zachary, Elizabeth, the angel who spoke to the shepherds, Simeon, and Anna basked in the ray of salvation which streamed down from heaven. Heaven itself streamed down with it \ and the sons of the earth lifted up their heads with a feeling of rapture, for the Prince of peace had come and reconciled earth to heaven! The great God, the 'Father of the world to come’ (Is. 9, 6) lay a little Babe in Mary’s arms” (Stolberg). Thus was the advent of Jesus Christ, the Divine Redeemer, borne witness to in various ways.
Application. Have you, like Mary, always observed the commandments of God with exactitude? Against which of the commandments have you most often sinned? You too were presented to God in your Baptism, and you ought to belong to Him, to love Him and serve Him. Say thus to yourself: “I will keep God’s commandments all the days of my life.”
Simeon thanked God with a full heart for having sent the Saviour. In what way do you thank Him for the unspeakable grace of Redemption ? You should thank Him every day of your life for the great gift of the Christian, Catholic faith.
* ↑ The Temple , which was rebuilt under the direction of Zorobabel (Old Test. LXXX), had several additions made to it by king Herod, which he undertook for the purpose both of gaining renown for himself, and of ingratiating himself with the Jewish people. The work was begun in the year 16 B. C., and was nearly completed at the time of our Lord’s Presentation (Fig. 66, p.407). By means of enormous supports, the court of the Temple was increased to a width of a thousand feet and a length of nearly one thousand seven hundred feet. This great space was enclosed by a high wall, inside which were two beautiful porticoes, 74 feet wide, supported by columns of white marble, and with flat ceilings of cedar-wood. On the south side of the enclosure were three similar halls, supported by pillars, the centre one of the three being 150 feet high. These halls with columns belonged to the first or outer court of the Temple, which was also called the court of the Gentiles, because even Gentiles were allowed to enter it. This outer court, which was very large, contained a synagogue, and cells for the Levites. It was also a market, fitted with the tables and booths of the money-changers, and of the cattle-merchants who sold beasts for the sacrifices. Inside this outer court, and surrounded by it on all sides, was the Temple proper, into which neither Gentiles nor unclean Israelites might enter, under pain of death. The Temple, to which access was obtained by ascending twenty steps, was surrounded by a wall that, on the inside, stood 33 feet high. Nine gates, four on the north, four on the south, and one on the eastern side, led into the Temple. The principal gateway was the one on the eastern side: it was made of brass, richly ornamented with gold and silver, and was 73 feet high by 60 broad It required the united strength of twenty men to close the gate in the evening. At this gate took place the purification of lepers, and of women after childbirth. Through this principal gate the court of the women was entered, in which stood a chest for offerings with thirteen trumpet-shaped openings. This court was surrounded with porticoes and galleries into which the women passed, while the men remained below. Through the court of the women and up fifteen steps was the entrance to the outer court of the Israelites, or of the men. From this was reached the outer court of the priests and Levites, and there stood the colossal altar of holocausts, and the brazen sea or laver (Old Test. LIX). From the outer court, twelve steps led to the porch of the Temple itself. Immediately after passing through the porch was an outer hall 150 feet broad and 15° feet high, and next to it the actual Temple, which was 150 feet broad and 83 high. The Temple, as well as the outer hall, was built of great blocks of white marble and richly overlaid with gold, both inside and out. Two-thirds of the Temple proper formed the Sanctuary, and the remaining third, which was at the western end, formed the Holy of Holies. This latter, which was quite empty, was separated from the other part by a costly curtain. In the Sanctuary stood the seven-branched candlestick, made of gold, the golden table of proposition, and the golden altar of incense. The ceiling of the Temple was overlaid with plates of gold. The whole building, raised up on high with its terraces, white marble columns and blocks, and golden decorations, must have presented a very majestic appearance, as it stood glittering in the sun.
* ↑ The law of Moses. See Old Test. XXXIII.
* ↑ Turtle-doves. According to the law a mother was considered unclean for forty days after the birth of a son, and during that time might not appear before the Lord in the Temple. On the fortieth day she had to offer a sacrifice of purification, namely a lamb and a young pigeon; or, if she were poor, she made the offering of the poor, namely two young pigeons, one to be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt offering. — Let us accompany the holy Mother with her Divine Child to the Temple. Standing at the great gate on the eastern side, which led to the outer court of the women, Mary handed to the priest the two pigeons, the offering of her poverty. The priest then went into the outer court of the temple, sprinkled the blood of one pigeon on the side of the altar as a sin-offering, and burnt the other in the fire as a thank-offering. Mary had to stay at the gate, but in spirit she accompanied the priest to the altar and thanked God from her heart that He had chosen her to be the Mother of God. Truly, the offering of the most pure Virgin was more pleasing to God than the sacrifice of either Abel or Melchisedech. After this, she presented the Divine Child as an offering to the Lord. She handed Him to the priest, and, having paid the five shekels (about thirteen shillings) redemption-money, received Him back again. We can imagine how wholly she gave her Child to the Lord, to belong entirely to Him and fulfil Ilis holy will! Her heart, indeed, was full of anxious forebodings, for she knew that her Son was the Redeemer, and that, according to the words of the prophets, He would suffer and die a violent death. But she gave herself over entirely to the will of God. “Take Him, O Lord”, she said, “for He is Thy Son. I will bring Him up for Thee. Do what Thou wilt, and if so be I must see Him die for the salvation of men — Thy will be done!”
* ↑ Simeon. Mary’s forebodings were soon to be confirmed by Simeon. As Mary passed through the crowded outer court with her Divine Child, she was unobserved: the crowd had no suspicion that the Messias, whom all the sacrifices in the Temple typified, had just entered His Father’s House for the first time. One man alone, the aged Simeon, recognised his Saviour in this Child. Scripture calls him a “just” man, for he had observed the law of the Lord from his youth up. His longing for the Redeemer was a holy and religious longing, unlike that usually entertained by the Jews, who looked for a merely earthly Messias. He hoped for One who should bring redemption, grace and truth; and as he saw the corruption of his - people increasing, he prayed the more fervently to God to send the promised Saviour. God heard his prayer, and the Holy Ghost gave him the assurance that, before he died, he should behold the Christ. For this reason Simeon went daily to the Temple where the Messias was to manifest Himself to him. As Mary entered with her Child, an inward illumination of the Holy Spirit made known to him that this Babe was lie whom he expected. Full of a holy joy he took the Child in his arms, and raising his eyes to heaven, sang his canticle “Nunc dimittis”.
* ↑ Thy servant, i. e. me.
* ↑ Thy word. i. e. according to Thy promise.
* ↑ In peace. Now I can leave this world in peace, I can die contentedly and joyfully.
* ↑ Thy salvation . The Saviour promised by Thee, whom Thou hast sent for all nations.
* ↑ The revelation. That He may, by His divine teaching, enlighten the heathen who are living in the darkness of unbelief.
* ↑ Israel. Being the people of whose race the Redeemer was born, and the place where He worked miracles and founded His Church.
* ↑ Blessed. Or congratulated them on having received the Divine Child. Then the inspired old man turned especially to Mary, the Mother of the Child, and foretold how much she would have to suffer on His account.
* ↑ Wondered. Joseph and Mary had indeed been taught by the angel that the Child was the Son of the Highest, and the promised Redeemer, but it filled them with astonishment that God should have revealed to Simeon the secret He had confided to them, and revealed it just at the moment when Jesus had been presented in the Temple and redeemed with money like an ordinary Israelite child. It astonished them, also, that Simeon should extol Him not only as the glory of Israel, but also as the light for the revelation of the Gentiles. The words which Simeon uttered by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost gave Mary and Joseph a deeper insight into the plan of Redemption than they had before possessed.
* ↑ Many in Israel. The people of Israel would be forced to come to a decision about our Lord. Those who rejected Him and refused to believe in Him would fall by reason of their unbelief, as did most of the Pharisees. But, on the other hand, those who did believe in Him would receive salvation, as did, for instance, the apostles, Nicodemus &c.
* ↑ Contradicted. He will be the mark against which will be levelled the hatred and persecution of the enemies of God, and of truth and virtue. How far this hatred would be carried is hinted in Simeon’s next words.
* ↑ Pierce. This word is not to be understood in a literal sense; the term rather signifies the violent pain which would pierce Mary’s heart like a dagger. This pain was suffered by Mary at the foot of the Cross. There the love of three hearts (thoughts of many hearts) was revealed: the love of God and man in the Heart of Jesus and the love of Mary, His and our mother.
* ↑ A prophetess. A person endowed by God with the gift of prophecy, and known as such to all the people. Therefore her testimony had greater weight with them than that of Simeon. Moreover, Anna was a woman of extraordinary virtue, her life being one of exceptional holiness and mortification.
* ↑ All who were looking. We can see by these words that many of the Jews were expecting the speedy advent of the Redeemer.
* ↑ Returned to Galilee. This does not mean that they returned at once; for a number of other events which St. Luke passes over come between, as the adoration of the Magi and the flight into Egypt mentioned by St. Matthew.
Footnotes