Caption Bishop Kevin Doran, Bishop of Elphin and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Achonry (Catholic Communications Office archive)
Homily
There are four adults gathered around Jesus in our Gospel today. Two of them, Mary and Joseph are well known to us. The other two, Simeon and Anna, only make this one appearance in the story of Jesus. This Gospel passage is like a bridge between the Old Testament and the New. Here are these four people two young and two much older who have waited faithfully for the fulfilment of God’s promise. That promise was expressed in various ways though the prophets, as we heard in the first reading from the prophet Malachi. Malachi says: “the Lord for whom you are waiting will suddenly enter his Temple”. Now, here in the person of Jesus, the promise is fulfilled. Simeon expresses it beautifully. “At last all powerful master you give leave to your servant to go in peace, according to your promise, for my eyes have seen your salvation”.
The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple is an ancient ritual which traces its origins back to Passover, when Moses led the people out of slavery and across the red sea. On that night, Scripture tells us, the first born of the Egyptians all died of the plague, but the children of the Hebrews were saved by the mercy of God. Ever since then, the Jewish people understood that they owed children to God. Presenting them in the Temple was a way of acknowledging that, and of dedicating their children to the service of God.
The Presentation, like Baptism, is a Rite of Initiation. It is very different in its meaning from Baptism, which exists both in the Jewish tradition and in our Catholic tradition, but I want to suggest to you that there are some important similarities between the Presentation and our celebration of Baptism. Like Joseph and Mary, Catholic parents bring their children to God in a spirit of thanksgiving. Baptism is also about dedication or consecration of the child to God’s service. At the very beginning of the liturgy, the priest makes the sign of the cross on the child’s forehead and invites the parents and godparents to do the same and the words used are: “I claim you for Christ our Saviour by the sign of his cross”. Baptism, like the Presentation in the Jewish tradition, is not just about bringing the child for a blessing; it is about mission. Just as Jesus is recognised by Simeon as “a light to enlighten the pagans”, so every Baptised Christian is called to reflect the light of Christ. At Baptism, we are told: “this candle is entrusted to you to be kept burning brightly”.
I invite you all this morning to imagine the moment when your parents, just like Joseph and Mary, brought you to the Church to present you for Baptism. I hope you have had the opportunity time to time to stand at that same Baptism font and to reflect on what Baptism has meant and continues to mean in your life.
This is our first time to celebrate the Day of Thanksgiving for Consecrated Life together in our two sister Dioceses. I welcome the religious sisters and the priests of various religious orders who are gathered here today. Like Simeon and Anna, you have consecrated your lives in a unique way to the service of God in the Church and in the World. Like them, you are witnesses to a God who always keeps His promises. I wonder if you remember the day of you first profession, when you took that next step which gave new direction to your Baptismal vocation. For some of you, it was a long time ago. Over the years you may have experienced moments of struggle and disappointment, but the Lord who called you remains faithful, and here you are, still serving Him. We give thanks to God for the blessing that you are in the life of the Church.
I spoke about Simeon and Anna as people who form a “bridge” between the Old Testament and the New. The Passover was also a “bridge moment” as the people left Egypt behind the and headed into the wilderness with only their faith. They had moments of doubt, when they wished they were back in Egypt, but Moses led them on.
I think we are also living a “bridge moment”, when we are asked to let go of much that was familiar to us, and to carry with us only what is essential. There are times when, like the Hebrews, we look over our shoulders and wish that things could be the way they were in the past. But then, in a moment of insight and wisdom, we realise that the past was far from perfect. God is always doing something new. He invites us to cross that bridge with confidence and to trust that He will lead us to where He wants us to be.
ENDS
- Bishop Kevin Doran is Bishop of Elphin and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Achonry. This Mass was celebrated by Bishop Doran on the Feast of the Presentation, Sunday 2 February 2025, in the Church of Saint James, Charlestown, Co Mayo.
