Breaking the Word

Presentation of the Lord, Friday – 02^nd February 2024 — Gospel: Luke 2,22-40

Refiner and Redeemer

In the first reading the prophet Malachi announces the sending of a messenger and foretells the arrival of the Lord to the Temple. The prophecy about the messenger was fulfilled by John the Baptist and had the mission of calling the people to covenant fidelity to prepare for the coming of the Lord, who comes to establish a new covenant. The Old Covenant used animal sacrifices to purify the hearts and forgiveness of sins, while the New Covenant brought by the Lord cleanses us from sin, without any human sacrifices. Malachi compares the Lord to a refining fire that will purify the son of Levi – the tribe that ministered in the sanctuary of God.

Normally, in the Old Testament, a firstborn son would either be given to the sanctuary to be raised as a priest or was redeemed from priestly service by the parents for five shekels (Num 18,15-16). Luke does not say that Jesus was redeemed or bought back from his priestly role. Rather, the great mystery is that Jesus was brought to the Temple and was presented and consecrated for service as a royal priest. Jesus himself is not redeemed; he is the Redeemer.

4^th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 01^st February 2024 – 1 Kgs 2,1-4.10-12; Mark 6,7-13

Instructions for Successors

In the first reading, King David gives his last will and testament to his son Solomon. David realizes that he is going to die soon, that at the end of his life, all he has accumulated will not be taken with him. David instructs Solomon to follow the mandates of the Lord as they are written in the Law of Moses. He also directs Solomon to punish David’s enemies and reward David’s royal supporters (1Kgs 2,5-9). In his testament, David recalls the covenant oath that the Lord made about his kingdom enduring forever. The Lord God promised that if David’s royal sons were faithful, they would experience the blessings of the covenant. If they were unfaithful, and many of them were, they would trigger the curses of the covenant and be disciplined.