who were at the presentation of jesus

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Mary, simeon or anna: who first recognized jesus as messiah.

THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE. When Joseph (far left) and Mary (left of center) bring baby Jesus to the Jerusalem Temple, they are greeted by Simeon, who embraces the baby, and Anna, the New Testament’s only prophetess, shown at right with a scroll, in this 1342 tempera painting by Ambrogio Lorenzetti. Simeon instantly and independently recognizes Jesus as messiah. Anna begins to preach: “She came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is. Uffizi/Scala/Art Resource, NY

Being first to hear doesn’t always mean being first to understand. In Luke’s birth narrative, Mary is the first to be told that Jesus will be the messiah. Luke adds that she “treasures the words” the angel Gabriel speaks to her. But Mary is also puzzled by the divine message; she is “perplexed” when the angel greets her and must “ponder” the meaning of his words (Luke 1:29; see also 2:19). In this, Mary contrasts sharply with Simeon and Anna, two elderly individuals who happen to be in the Temple when Joseph and Mary bring the infant Jesus to Jerusalem for the first time.

According to Luke 2:22–24, “[Joseph and Mary] brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord’ [quoting Exodus 13:2, 12]) and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons’ [based on Leviticus 12:2–8].”

At the Temple, the family is approached by a man named Simeon, who has been told by the Holy Spirit that he will not die until he has seen the messiah. (The same Spirit told him to go to the Temple that day, too.) Simeon takes Jesus in his arms and praises God: “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel” (Luke 2:28–32). Having seen the messiah, Simeon is now prepared to die.

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Anna then approaches the Holy Family. She, too, recognizes Jesus as messiah, but she has a very different reaction: “At that moment, she came and began to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38). She is 84 years old, according to Luke, and she does not want to die: She wants to proselytize. Like the disciples who will follow her, she is driven to bear witness to what she has seen. Mary was the first to have the good news announced to her, but Anna is the first woman to understand fully and proclaim the good news.

This is because in addition to being a proselytizer, Anna is a “prophetess” (Luke 2:36). In fact, she is the only woman in the New Testament explicitly described as a “prophetess.” She then stands in the line of figures like the judge, military leader and prophetess Deborah and the Jerusalem prophetess Huldah, who, in the days of King Josiah, was asked to verify that an ancient scroll (a form of Deuteronomy) discovered during Temple renovations was indeed the word of God (2 Kings 22).

Unlike Simeon, Anna is not just visiting the Temple for the day; she is there all the time. According to Luke, Anna “never left the Temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day” (Luke 2:37). Perhaps she was part of some sort of order of widows (Luke tells us her husband died after only seven years of marriage) who had specific religious functions in the Temple. She may have been able to undertake this role in the Temple because she was no longer in periodic states of ritual impurity caused by menstruation.

Learn more about Anna in Robin Gallaher Branch’s Bible History Daily article “Anna in the Bible.”

Mary startles when Gabriel and God the Father appear in her home and interrupt her prayers. In Lorenzo Lotto’s unusual rendition of the Annunciation, dated to 1535, Mary’s cat is equally frightened by the divine apparition. According to Luke, Mary treasures the angel’s message, but does not fully understand it. Only after years of “pondering the message in her heart” does she become a true follower of Jesus.” Museo Civico, Recanati, Italy/Scala/Art Resource, NY.

Luke may also have seen Anna as the second witness in or around the Temple needed to validate Jesus’ significance. Deuteronomy 19:15 stresses the importance of having two witnesses to validate an event.

The pairing of Simeon and Anna reflects Luke’s penchant for male-female parallelism when he writes about the recipients of divine blessing and salvation. The story of Jesus’ birth is framed by two such stories—that of Elizabeth and Zechariah in Luke 1 and Anna and Simeon in Luke 2. Interestingly, in both, the woman is portrayed as the more positive example of discipleship. The women are not only more receptive to the message, they are more willing to act upon it, with Elizabeth realizing that her cousin is carrying the messiah and praising God for this blessing and Anna spreading the good news.

Alfred Plummer, in his classic commentary on Luke, suggested that the difference between Anna and Simeon provides a clue to Luke as a salvation historian, a chronicler of the mighty acts of God for his people through the ages. Yes, a messiah has arrived, as Simeon recognizes, but, as the prophetess Anna suggests, a new era, with a new and living voice of prophecy, has at the same time dawned. 1 In this new era, the living voice of God will continue to speak about the messianic one. Anna is the first in a line of prophetic disciples who will speak about Jesus to all who were looking for the redemption of Israel.

Not everyone can be a prophet, however. Mary, for example, does not fully understand what Anna immediately recognizes. And she won’t for several years.

Twelve years after the presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the Holy Family returns to Jerusalem and Jesus returns to the Temple, this time by himself. Mary and Joseph search for him frantically for three days. When at last they find him listening to and asking questions of the teachers in the Temple, Mary asks, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety.” Jesus responds, “Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” But, Luke reports, “they did not understand what he said to them … [but] his mother treasured all these things in her heart” (Luke 2:48–51). The late New Testament scholar Raymond Brown wrote: “Luke’s idea is that complete acceptance of the word of God, complete understanding of who Jesus is, and complete discipleship is not yet possible. This will come through the ministry of Jesus and particularly through the cross and resurrection.”

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Clearly, Luke is not painting an idealized portrait of Mary or Joseph. Rather, he paints a very human and realistic picture of Mary and Joseph as good parents, anxious, concerned, striving to be obedient and understanding, but not yet comprehending. Brown adds, however, that “Luke does not leave Mary on the negative note of misunderstanding. Rather in 2.51 [“his mother treasured all these things …”] he stresses her retention of what she has not yet understood and … her continuing search to understand.” 2

Of course, in the end, Luke portrays Mary as successfully making the spiritual journey into the family of faith; in Acts 1:14, when the apostles gather in the upper room after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, Mary is with them. But the story of Simeon and Anna suggests Mary had much to learn before she could enter into the Kingdom, and into the spiritual family of faith, which they already belonged to, and which is to be the primary family of Jesus in the eschatological age.

Luke’s Christmas story is full of surprising reversals of fortunes and roles, in which outsiders become more intimate associates than family members, and in which women play a more active role then men. In this way Luke both prepares for and signals one of his major themes in the Gospel of Luke and in Acts—the least, the last and the lost are becoming the most, the first and the found with Jesus’ coming. Luke portrays the rise of a form of Judaism that would rely on the testimony of women as well as men, and that would empower them once again to fulfill roles like Miriam of old.

The first Christmas and the Christ child come at a particular point in time, but for many, like Mary and Joseph, the significance of the event is only understood incrementally and over the course of many years. But the prophetic insight into God’s intentions is a gift which keeps on giving and renewing the people of God. And at the outset of a long chain of such prophetic insights stand Simeon and Anna, one satisfied that prophecy has been fulfilled and the other pointing to the future, a future as bright as the promises of God.

“Mary, Simeon or Anna” by Ben Witherington III originally appeared in Bible Review , Winter 2005. The article was first republished in Bible History Daily on February 12, 2013.

1. See Alfred Plummer, Luke , International Critical Commentary (Edinburgh: T & T Clark, 1905), p. 71. 2. Raymond E. Brown and Karl P. Donfried, eds., Mary in the New Testament (Philadelphia: Fortress, 1978), pp. 161–162.

Related reading in Bible History Daily :

Anna in the Bible

The Virgin Mary and the Prophet Muhammad

Who Was Jesus’ Biological Father?

Herod’s Death, Jesus’ Birth and a Lunar Eclipse

All-Access members, read more in the BAS Library :

The Birth of Jesus Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First Recognized Jesus as Messiah? Before Mary: The Ancestresses of Jesus Not a BAS Library or All-Access Member yet? Join today.

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33 Responses

While considering Dr. Witherington’s question, I would like to ask, “How about Elizabeth, wife of Zachariah, whose response to Mary’s arrival plainly states that the Spirit revealed to her the identity of the unborn Messiah?” Luke 1:41-43 reads, “When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! 43 But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ” If Mary were first to know, then surely Elizabeth was second, or if Mary did not realize, then Eizabeth was first to know.

The presentations by all, are excellent and non-controversial. The wisdom of Almighty God is unsearchable! Romans 11:33-34 and Isaiah 40:28. Fear God, love God and honor God for the multitude of things he has done in our behalf, the love He has given us and the graciousness He has shown us through His Son and the Holy Spirit! God is testing us everyday and has given us the right to make our own choices. May Almighty God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit and Christianity be our guiding lights, our safety nets and our inspiration for loving happiness with Almighty God! Amen!

ben witherington and all readers,

my name is david snyder. i am a veterinarian in texas and i am catholic! i have a tremendous teachin about the physiologic process a body experiences, during crucifixion. i was searching for private visions by people who have had additional explanations, suvh as the annunciation. i know PROTESTANTS don”t credit private interpretations. If you ever want to read something that fills in the blanks an,d plays out like a movie, read MYSTICAL CITY OF GOD by SISTER MARY of AGREEDA. Keeping with SOLO SCIPTURUAE, we have left out the first procession of CORPUS CHRISTI, which is MARY visiting ELIZABETH. SCRIPTURE, proclaims elizabeth asking in wonder, “how is it that the MOTHER of my LORD comes to me?” i could go on and on

Adding to what David said, Two important points, to say the least:

1. Gabriel made it quite clear to Mary who is Jesus: “And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call him Jesus. He shall be great, and men will know him for the Son of the most High; the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he shall reign over the house of Jacob eternally; his kingdom shall never have an end.”

2. In response, Mary made it quite clear to Gabriel that she understood: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; let it be unto me according to thy word.”

3. Mary then announced to Elizabeth (and the world): “My soul magnifies the Lord; my spirit has found joy in God, who is my Saviour, because he has looked graciously upon the lowliness of his handmaid. Behold, from this day forward all generations will count me blessed; because he who is mighty, he whose name is holy, has wrought for me his wonders. He has mercy upon those who fear him, from generation to generation; he has done valiantly with the strength of his arm, driving the proud astray in the conceit of their hearts; he has put down the mighty from their seat, and exalted the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty-handed. He has protected his servant Israel, keeping his merciful design in remembrance, according to the promise which he made to our forefathers, Abraham and his posterity for evermore.”

Exactly. Mary knew.

Amen brother! Article states Mary had much to learn before she could enter the kingdom of heaven??? What nonsense.! All those degrees and the guy can’t figure it out.

John in the womb.

GOD THE FATHER, HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS AND MARY AT THE TEMPLE It was Mary and Joseph’s job to bring up Jesus the Son of Man, as Jesus often referred to himself, in the nurture and admonition of the Lord to be a responsible adult in the Jewish culture. It was God the Father’s and Holy Spirit’s job to prepare Jesus until he was ready to start His ministry. At the Temple scene, Mary definatly shows she knows this by how she address him after looking for him for three days. She is not shaking in her boots because inwardly Jesus is the Son of God. Which she knows fullwell, she had pondered this in her heart. God gave her a job to do and she is doing it.

Jesus, the adolecent, wasn’t sining or lying here he was jumping the gun. You can be sure God the father and Holy Spirit let Him know about it. Which scripture acknowledges by saying “Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them.” He was obident and honored them for another 18 yrs until the God given time had come and He revelled himself by changing the water into wine at the Cana wedding.

It wasn’t that Mary had forgotten that Jesus was also the Son of God that she didn’t understand. She didn’t understand why he was saying and revelling himself at this age – God had her back on this one!

THE WEDDING AT CANA It is evident from scripture, by the fact that the people in His hometown and His siblings didn’t know He was the Messia (after thirty yrs), that Mary, Joseph or Jesus ever revealed this.

Mary at the Cana wedding sensed, maybe with the Holy Spirit’s nudging, that perhaps this was the time for Jesus to reveall him self in a big way. He had been baptized and already started gathering his disciples.

Instead of the adolecent’s response, Jesus said this time, “my time has not yet come.” Followed immediatly by changing the water into wine.

The song ‘Mary did you know’ yes Mary did know that her son – God’s son – was capable of not only performing miracles but of saving any one who has faith in Him from eternal death and blessing them with eternal life.

A tour to the pyramids of Giza will reveal some fascinating facts about the historical past and tradition of historical Egypt.

And nobody’s recognizing John the Baptist’s “testimony” to knowing who Jesus was…from the womb!

For such a learned scholar he does not read throughly all of Luke. Elizabeth was the first to call Mary the mother of my Lord! Mary also tells the Archangel Gabriel she agrees to having the Son of God. And Mary’s Magnificent states her understanding of what is happening within her. Further Zacharias announces who is son John shall be and who Mary’s Son shall be in his discourse before Jesus or John are even born.

I enjoyed your article and found only one flaw which to some lends itself to your research or thoroughness of it. Luke says of Anna: “And there was Anna … she was of great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow fourscore and four years, …” You give Anna the age of 84…however considering girls were approximately 15 when wed, she lived with her husband 7 years and had been a widow 84 years. Anna was about 106 years old – depending upon when she wed. Does not detract from the subject matter, but some would doubt your research capabilities. I am surprised no one else caught this prior to publication.

Good Stuff Ben and I love preaching on Simeon and Anna over the years, thanks. But also wanted to add two points: 1) it is said in the New Testament that Philip had four daughters who prophesied and certainly could be considered prophetesses, with Anna not the only one:

Acts 21:8-9 On the next day we who were Paul’s companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him. Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

2) I’m not sure why Simeon’s reaponse has to be considered “less than” Anna’s? At least that seems to be what you imply. Hey, if the Holy Spirit tells Simeon he will not die till he sees the Messiah, and if he’s been waiting his entire life perhaps, and he’s faithful and in the temple and he comes and serves as that second witness ~ that may be Gods total will for his life’s ending, different from Anna’s, but just as powerful.

Who are we to really imply something different for the amazing Simeon and his song??!!!

Nicely done Ben. It has provided much food for thought. One issue does provide some hesitation for me though. In referring to Alfred Plummer’s Commentary on Luke, (along with your proposal that Luke’s women were “more positive example’s of discipleship”) you write, “Yes, a messiah has arrived, as Simeon recognizes, but, as the prophetess Anna suggests, a new era, with a new and living voice of prophecy, has at the same time dawned.” That is quite a leap as Luke offers only a one-line summation of her input after he quotes Simeon at length. Furthermore, Joseph seems to be Mary’s equal regarding “getting it.” Let’s not forget that God spoke to Joseph in dreams and he obeyed each time.

I like to think it was the shepherds. They were given a sign – a baby “swaddled, laying in a manger.” If (as some scholars claim) this band of shepherds were those caring for the temple flocks, they would recognize this treatment. (Apparently) this was how new lambs were inspected for defects and kept unmarred for eventual sacrifice for forgiveness of sins. No wonder they “spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,” (luke 2:17).

Makes sense to me.

OK, so I have a slightly different interpretation when it comes to Joseph and Mary finding Jesus after he’s been missing for three days. Jesus mouthing off to his mother in public after they have been frantic after losing him in a larger metropolitan area for three days. She’s pondering all right, she’s pondering just how hard she’s gonna tan his little hide when she gets him home.

August 22,2014 2:02 am. IVE JUST FINISH READING ANNA IS A PROPHETESS FOUND LUKE 2:36. Your statement says she is the only woman in New Testament explicitly described as a prophetess. Teaching Women of the Bible. we are in the 8th month. Its amazing all the women named or not named. God bless you and your work.

Didn’t Jesus’ family try to kidnap him at one point during his ministry. Doesn’t it say that they thought he had gone mad? Seems to me like they didn’t “get it”.

So you are saying that when the Shepard’s and the wise men came Mary had no idea Jesus was Messiah? Also, what she went through when almost stone, seems many want to believe Mary just forgot all that, As well as, all the towns people. This is a stand that is very difficult for me to follow how one gets there, since Mary was told by Gabriel, John (to be the Baptist) at 6 mos responded, Elizabeth told her, again all the torment when she rtnd from Elizabeth’s, the shepard’s and the wise men– the woman would have had to of had amnesia not to know. Are there verses I have missed about her memory leave her?>

[…] Witherington III’s full letter “Mary, Simeon or Anna: Who First identified Jesus as Messiah?” is permitted on-line during no cost. wish to examine some-more about his analysis? learn […]

Jesus was never the Messiah ! He could not be as he did not fulfill the requirements, i.e. bringing peace to earth and rebuilding the temple. Additionally he was not a direct descendant of David. So what? See who and when the Apostles wrote their stories.

I want to add: each jewish month has exactly 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes, 3 1/3 seconds.

we can know when Jesus was born. Zacharias the father of John the baptist was from the house of Abija, we read in Luke 1.5. In Davids time the yearly service of the highpriest priests was divided in 24 houses, each makíng the service in the temple in Jerusalem for half a month. . The house of Abijahs servicetime was the number 8, thus the second half of the 4th month of the jewish year which was about June. The jewish year in ancient Israel times began in spring, the month of Nisan ,which is about our March/April . We then count 3 and a half months from 1. Nisan till the begnning of the service of the house of Abija, which gives us end June as the earliest possible conception date for John, when his father Zacharia went home after his templeservice and went to his wife. 6 months later, thus about December Jesus was conceived in Mary, and born 9 months later which gives us September for the birth of Jesus which is the time of the feast of Sukkoth which is now fullfilled in the coming of the Word of God to dwell among us in a human body: Greek skenos means tent and figuratively the human body . thus the feast of Sukkoth is a symbol for God dwellling among us in Jesus . Hebrew Sukkot is the plural from Suka booth, tent, tabernacle. . The jewish month has only about 29 days .please google the theme here and you will find all detailed informations for what I wrote here.

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I like the stress on Mary and Joseph as good parents who nevertheless don’t get it. One of the themes of Jesus in the Synoptic tradition seems to be the emphasis that one’s own family can become a stumbling block to their walk of faith. Some of the biggest misunderstandings come from people who are related to Jesus.

I think one of the things Mary was “pondering in her heart” must have related to the Shepherds’ visit at the manger. They likely would have communicated to her the sign they had been given by the angels (you will find the babe swaddled and laying in a manger.). If these shepherds were in charge of birthing the sacrificial lambs for the nearby temple, as some scholars claim, then this sign would present some disturbing images regarding jesus’ future.

Apparently sacrificial lambs were wrapped (swaddled) at birth and lain in a manger as they were being inspected for blemishes that would disqualify them for sacrifice. Keeping them wrapped prevented them from becoming blemished later on. Even modern day shepherds outfit new lambs in protective coats, especially in cold weather. A suffering messiah was not yet on anyone’s radar, so I think Mary indeed had a lot to mull over as she put all the extraordinary information together regarding her first born.

Nice job Susanna! You’re on the money. Plus, even before Mary was with the Apostle’s during Christ’s ressurecction, she also (quite a few years before) told Jesus’ friends (Apostles) to do what he tells them at the wedding in Cana! She knew who he was! That is also why she stood at the cross and did not kneel.

“Both are quicker than Mary to comprehend who Jesus is” This statement seems rather presumptive to me. You seem to have forgotten about Elizabeth’s greeting to Mary many months before Mary met Anna at the temple. Surely you’ll recall how the unborn John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb at the presence of Mary and the unborn baby Jesus? Elizabeth proclaims “How is it that the mother of our Lord should come to me?” My bet is even if Mary, as you infer, had no idea who Jesus was, then Elizabeth was the first to notify her of the significance of Jesus. Even better, Mary understood that she had indeed been greatly blessed, and that “all generations would call [her] Blessed.” Anna wasn’t there to tell Mary something she didn’t already know. Seems to me, she was there to let the rest of us know.

I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the structure of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 images.

Maybe you could space it out better?

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What’s Happening at the Presentation of the Lord?

Forty days after his birth, Christ was presented at the Temple. Why?

Feb. 2 is the Feast of the the Presentation of the Lord.

We read about the presentation of the Lord in Luke Chapter 2, but the text can be a little mysterious.

What is actually happening there?

Some claim that Luke himself didn't know...

What Luke Says

Here is what Luke (2:22-24) actually says about the event:

And when the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, ’Every male that 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.’

He then records the encounters with Simeon and Anna the prophetess, but at the moment our focus is what Luke refers to as “their purification.”

What is he talking about?

The Purification of the Mother

The first thing to note is that Luke is not talking about the time of Jesus' circumcision. That occurred on the eighth day after his birth . Luke has already talked about that and is now referring to a later time.

Specifically, he's talking about the 40th day after Christ's birth.

We know that because of he quotes from Leviticus 12:8 (“a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons”), which refers to the purification ritual that a Jewish mother needed to perform to become ritually clean again after childbirth.

In the case of a boy, this was on the 40th day after childbirth (which is why this feast is on Feb. 2 — 40 days after Christmas, counting Dec. 25 as the first day).

In the case of a girl child, the purification was later.

This leads to a question ...

Why “Their” Purification?

Leviticus only mentions the purification of the mother, not anybody else. So why does Luke refer to the time of “their” purification?

Some have thought Luke was fuzzy on how all this was supposed to work.

That seems unlikely to me. Luke may have been a Gentile Christian, but he was living amidst numerous Jewish Christians, and in keeping with his habit of investigating things thoroughly, he would have been able to find out precisely how these things worked.

I think another explanation is more likely, and there are several possible ones.

One is that Luke is just speaking in a general way. The rite of purification was something that the whole family was present for. They all made the journey to the temple together, and so it was in some sense “their” effort, even if it was Mary in particular who was being ritually purified.

If a modern family goes to a restaurant to celebrate the birthday of one of it’s members, it is in one sense “their” party, even if in another sense it is the party of the one having the birthday.

In the same way, if the whole family goes to the temple for a purification, Luke can speak of it as “their” purification, even if they aren’t all being purified.

A Poor But Obedient Family

There are a couple more things to note about Mary’s purification.

The first is that the offering she made indicates that the Holy Family was poor. The ordinary offering was a lamb and a dove, but in cases where a family was too poor for that, two doves were used instead.

Despite its noble lineage, belonging to the line of David, Joseph’s family had fallen on hard times and was among the poor.

They were still obedient to what the Law of Moses required, though. This is the reason why Mary offers the second dove as “a sin offering” (see Leviticus 12:6), though she herself was immaculate.

This act does not indicate that she was a sinner any more than Jesus' circumcision, baptism, or participation in other sacrificial rites indicates that he was a sinner.

And there is more happening here ...

The Redemption of the Firstborn

Luke also quotes Exodus 13:2, which deals with the redemption of firstborn males.

The idea behind this ritual was that every male firstborn — whether human or animal — is holy to God, the same way that the firstfruits of a crop were holy to God.

Consequently, they had to either be given to God in sacrifice or redeemed — bought back from him.

Since human sacrifice was illegal and immoral, all firstborn boys had to be redeemed, which was done by their father paying a priest five shekels.

Luke Confused Again?

Again, people accuse Luke of being confused about this. It is argued that the redemption of the firstborn didn't take place at the Temple, and so there was no reason for the Holy Family to bring Jesus there.

Again, the criticism is misplaced.

While it may have been possible for a boy to be redeemed anywhere, it was natural for this to be done at the temple, and we know — in fact — that there was a tradition of doing so.

We read about that in Nehemiah 10:35-36, where the people took an oath, saying:

We obligate ourselves ... to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the law.

No Mention of Redemption?

Interestingly, Luke does not mention Joseph paying the five shekels to a priest. Why not?

It could be that he simply takes this act for granted, just as he doesn't go into the details of the rite of Mary’s purification. He has cited the Old Testament passages referring to these rites, and he takes that as sufficient indication they were performed.

But some have thought there may be a deeper significance to his failing to mention Jesus being redeemed.

Why might that be?

Still Consecrated

The obvious answer would be that Jesus was considered as still consecrated to the Lord.

Two reasons suggest themselves. First, as the Jewish Encyclopedia notes :

Not only priests and Levites, but also Israelites whose wives are the daughters of priests or Levites, need not redeem their firstborn . 

Joseph was the husband of Mary, and Mary was a relative of Elizabeth, who was “of the daughters of Aaron” (Luke 1:5), so perhaps Mary's lineage didn't require her to have her Son redeemed.

In that case, he was presented at the Temple in acknowledgement of his consecration to God.

Or, if the redemption was done, Luke may meant to suggest, on a literary level, that Jesus remained totally consecrated to God.

Benedict XVI comments:

Evidently Luke intends to say that instead of being ‘redeemed’ and restored to his parents, this child was personally handed over to God in the Temple, given over completely to God. ... Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of 'redemption' prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the child is handed over to God, and from now on belongs to him completely. (Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives: 3)

This article originally appeared Feb. 2, 2014, at the Register.

• presentation

Jimmy Akin Jimmy was born in Texas and grew up nominally Protestant, but at age 20 experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant pastor or seminary professor, he started an intensive study of the Bible. But the more he immersed himself in Scripture the more he found to support the Catholic faith. Eventually, he entered the Catholic Church. His conversion story, “A Triumph and a Tragedy,” is published in Surprised by Truth . Besides being an author, Jimmy is the Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a contributing editor to Catholic Answers Magazine , and a weekly guest on “Catholic Answers Live.”

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Reflections for the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Introduction:    This feast commemorates how Jesus, as a baby, was presented to God in the Temple in Jerusalem. This presentation finds its complete and perfect fulfillment in the mystery of the passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord. The  Feast of the Presentation of the Lord   is a combined feast ,  commemorating the Jewish practice of the  purification of the mother  after childbirth and the  presentation of the child  to God in the Temple and his buying back ( redemption ) from God. It is also known as the  Feast of the Purification of Mary , and the Feast  of Candlemas.  It is also called the  Feast of Encounter  ( Hypapánte  in Greek) because the New Testament, represented by the baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna. Joseph offered two pigeons in the Temple as sacrifice for the purification of Mary after her childbirth and for the presentation and redemption ceremonies performed for baby Jesus.

Homily starter anecdote: “Four chaplains Sunday:  Julia Duin in the Washington Times Sunday, February 1, 2009 told this story. Just after midnight on Feb. 3, 1943, an act of extraordinary unselfishness by a group of men became a legend of martyrdom and sacrifice. When the Army ship Dorchester was torpedoed by the Germans just south of Greenland that night, its passengers and crew had 25 minutes to get off the boat. As 902 people went for the life jackets, it quickly was discovered there weren’t near enough. Of the 13 lifeboats, only two functioned. In the ship’s final minutes, Methodist senior chaplain George Lansing Fox, Rabbi Alexander Goode, Dutch Reformed minister Clark V. Poling and John P. Washington, a Roman Catholic priest, were helping passengers leave the vessel. Then four men appeared all of them without life jackets. The chaplains quickly gave up their own vests and went down with the ship, perishing in the freezing water. Survivors saw them, locked arm in arm, praying and singing the Navy hymn, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” just before the ship dove beneath the waves. It was a night as dramatic as the sinking of the Titanic but without a blockbuster movie to record the drama. “The Four Immortal Chaplains,” as they are now known, have been honored many times, including on a stamp issued in their honor by the U.S. Postal Service. Hence the first Sunday in February is known as “Four Chaplains Sunday” in some Christian denominations.  They presented and offered themselves completely for the wellbeing of others as Jesus was presented to God his Heavenly Father in the Temple of Jerusalem for the salvation of the world. ( http://frtonyshomilies.com/).

Scripture lessons summarized:   In the   first reading,  taken from Malachi, the prophet speaks of the Lord suddenly coming to Jerusalem to purify the lax, lazy and indifferent priests of His Temple as silver is purified by fire. Simeon saw the Infant Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage. He saw Jesus as the Lord Who has come to the Temple,  "destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel."    In the second reading,  St. Paul   proclaims Jesus as our Eternal High Priest of     the New Covenant (Heb 2:17), Who offered himself on the altar of Calvary, the only pure priestly sacrifice that could please God.    He replaces the former priesthood.  The Gospel  describes how Joseph, as the head of the Holy Family of Nazareth, presented Mary and the baby Jesus in the Temple of God for the mother’s purification and the Child’s “redemption.” It also describes the Holy Family’s encounter with the old prophet Simeon and the holy old widow Anna. In his prophecy, Simeon extols the divine blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men and predicts that Mary will play a crucial and sacrificial role in her Son's redemptive work by sharing in her Son's sufferings.

The first reading explained : Malachi prophesies in the first reading that the Lord is going to appear suddenly in the Temple of Jerusalem  to purify its priests and the people . The prophecy warns that nobody can endure the day of the messenger's coming because he will be like a refining fire, purifying the sons of Levi.  Led by the Spirit,  Simeon saw the Infant Jesus as the fulfillment of this passage .  Simeon, even if unknown to himself, foresaw Christ and His priests of the New Covenant who were ordained during the Last Supper. He saw Jesus as the Lord Who would come to the Temple,  "destined to be the downfall and rise of many in Israel."  In today's reading, Malachi prophesies that God will purify the lax, lazy and indifferent priests of His Temple as silver is purified by fire.  At the time of Malachi (around 460-450 BC), the priests were offering blemished (blind, lame) sacrifices and giving bad example (1:6-2:4).  The people were negligent in their support of the Temple (3:6-12). Israelite wives were being rejected by husbands who wished to marry foreign women (2:14-16). Social injustice was rampant (3:5), and the people doubted God’s love (1:2-5). Hence, Malachi reminds them that the Day of the Lord, a Day of Judgment, reward and retribution is coming. He describes the Divine intervention as a two-stage process. First God’s messenger will appear to prepare the way by purifying the clergy and refining the cult (v. 3). This purification will take place until they present offerings to the Lord in a spirit of justice and righteousness. Then, the Lord of Hosts will suddenly appear in the Temple (v. 1), to bring judgment and justice against unfaithful sinners (v. 5). The Psalm announces to Jerusalem that Jerusalem is about to receive a great visitor. The Psalmist identifies him as “The LORD of hosts … the king of glory.”

The second reading explained:  The second reading proclaims Jesus as our Eternal High Priest of the New Covenant (Heb 2:17), Who offered Himself on the altar of Calvary, the only pure priestly sacrifice that could please God. The  Didache  or the first catechism of the early Church (14:1-3), saw Malachi’s prophecy of a pure sacrifice and offering made from east to west as a prophecy of the sacrifice of the Eucharist.  Hence Malachi prophesies that the Lord will enter His Temple, there will be a renewed priesthood, and there will be a pure sacrifice offered worldwide and pleasing to God -- the Eucharist. Jesus became like us in all things except sin in order that He might offer to the Father perfect praise and glory.  Besides, since Jesus fully shared our experience, He is now a merciful and faithful High Priest on our behalf,  "able to help those who are being tested."   Jesus replaces the former priesthood. In keeping with the theme of today’s feast, namely, the presentation of the first fruits, this excerpt from Hebrews emphasizes Jesus’ dual role, as  first-fruits ,  par excellence , and as the  faithful High priest  Who presents the perfect gift of Himself to God for the expiation of human sin. By virtue of His Incarnation, Jesus became human in every way (vv. 17-18) except as regards sin. As representative of His brothers and sisters before God and as their Mediator, Christ perfected His service as both sacrifice and priest. By so doing, Christ was able to “rob the devil” of power (v. 14). As the first-fruits from the dead, as the conqueror of sin and death, Christ, in His person and through His mission, has set the course and cleared the way we are to follow; the decision to do so must be a daily and deliberate one.  It takes faith to see God's power at work in the death of Jesus.  Simeon hinted at this when he told Mary that she herself would be pierced with a sword.  Even knowing that her Son was the Savior of the world, it would be difficult for Mary to see him accomplish that salvation by being crucified.

Exegesis of today’s Gospel:  The birth of Christ was revealed by three kinds of witnesses in three different ways -- first, by the shepherds, after the angel's announcement; second, by the Magi, who were guided by a star; third, by Simeon and Anna, who were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Today’s Gospel describes the Presentation of the Baby Jesus in the Temple. It was intended to ritually redeem Jesus who was the first born in the family and where Mary herself will have to be ritually purified. Mary and Joseph was a typical pious Jewish couple, who went to the Temple in obedience to do all that was required and expected of them by the Law.The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus is a combined feast , commemorating the Jewish practice of the purification of the mother after childbirth and the presentation of the child in the Temple. It is known as the Hypapánte   feast or Feast of the Purification of Mary (by the offering two pigeons in the Temple), the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (by prayers and a sacrifice offered in the Temple to redeem or buy the firstborn male child back from the Lord), the Feast of Candlemas (because of its ancient rite of blessing of the candles to be used in the church for the next year — a practice dating from the middle of the fifth century) and the Feast of Encounter (because the New Testament, represented by the Baby Jesus, encountered the Old Testament, represented by Simeon and Anna). Originally, there was no connection between today’s festival and the blessing of candles.    In the ancient East, this celebration occurred on February 14, forty days after Epiphany.   On February 15, pagans celebrated the festival of Lupercalia , a great “light” festival.    Perhaps this is an instance of the Church's “baptizing” a pagan custom.    At the principal Mass, the celebrant blesses candles, and people take part in a candlelight procession.    This should remind us that Jesus is our High Priest and the Light of the World.

Purification and redemption ceremonies : The Gospel describes how Joseph, as the head of the Holy Family of Nazareth, presented Mary and the baby Jesus in the Temple of God for the mother’s purification and the child’s “redemption.” According to Leviticus 12:2-8, a woman who bore a child was unclean  for forty days following the birth of a son or eighty days following the birth of a daughter.   Although Mary, the most holy of women, ever-Virgin, was exempt from these precepts of the Law, because of her miraculous conception, she chose to submit herself to the Law just like any other Jewish mother. Joseph and Mary showed their total submission to Law and obey the norms prescribed by the Old Testament.  The custom was practiced probably for the physical and emotional re-integration of the new mother into the community. There was a religious reason as well. Exodus 13:2, 12-13 prescribes that every first-born male belongs to God and must be set apart for the Lord, that is, dedicated to the service of God.  However, once divine worship was reserved to the tribe of Levi, first-born who did not belong to that tribe were not dedicated to God's service, and to show that they continued to be God's special property, a rite of redemption was performed. The Law also commanded that the Israelites should offer in sacrifice some lesser victim -- for example, a lamb or, if they were poor, a pair of doves or two pigeons.  The Book of Numbers 18: 15 taught that since every Jewish firstborn male child belonged to Yahweh, the parents had to “buy back” (redeem), the child by offering a lamb or turtledoves as a sacrifice in the Temple. The price of redemption for a human baby is five shekels of silver (Num 18:15-16). Jesus never needed to be "bought back," as he belonged wholly to the Lord, but Joseph kept these laws as an act of obedience to God. 

The encounter with Simeon and Anna :   By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the old, pious and Spirit-filled Simeon and Anna had been waiting in the Temple for the revelation of God’s salvation. The Greek Church celebrates the Hypapánte or Feast of the Encounter commemorating the encounter of the New Testament represented by Jesus with the Old Testament represented by Simeon and Anna. Simeon, who is described as a righteous and devout man, obedient to God's will, addresses himself to our Lord as a vassal or loyal servant who, having kept watch all his life in expectation of the coming of his Lord, sees that this moment has "now" come, the moment that explains his whole life.  When he takes the Child in his arms, he learns, not through any reasoning process but through a special grace from God, that this Child is the promised Messiah, the Consolation of Israel, the Light of the nations.  Simeon recognizes Jesus as the Lord’s anointed one, and in his prayer of blessing he prophesies that Jesus is meant to be the glory of Israel and the light of revelation to the Gentiles. Pope Francis: “Simeon took him in his arms and thanked God that he had finally “seen” salvation. Anna, despite her advanced age, found new vigor and began to speak to everyone about the Baby. It is a beautiful image: two young parents and two elderly people, brought together by Jesus. He is the one who brings together and unites generations! He is the inexhaustible font of that love which overcomes every occasion of self-absorption, solitude, and sadness. In your journey as a family, you share so many beautiful moments: meals, rest, housework, leisure, prayer, trips and pilgrimages, and times of mutual support… Nevertheless, if there is no love then there is no joy, and authentic love comes to us from Jesus. He offers us his word, which illuminates our path; he gives us the Bread of life which sustains us on our journey.”

Simeon’s prophecy: Simeon's canticle (verses 29-32) is also a prophecy.  It consists of two stanzas: the first (verses 29-30) is his act of thanksgiving to God, filled with profound joy for having seen the Messiah.  The second (verses 31-32) is more obviously prophetic and extols the divine blessings which the Messiah is bringing to Israel and to all men.  The canticle highlights the fact that Christ brings redemption to all men without exception -- something foretold in many Old Testament prophecies (cf. Genesis 22:18; Isaiah 2:6; 42:6; 60:3; Psalm 28:2). While Simeon blessed Mary, he warned her that her child would be “ a sign of contradiction, ” and that she would be “ pierced with a sword.” Simeon was prophesying both the universal salvation that would be proclaimed by Jesus and the necessity of suffering in the mission of the Messiah. Jesus came to bring salvation to all men, yet He would be a sign of contradiction because some people would obstinately reject Him -- and for this reason He would be their ruin.  But for those who would accept Him with faith, Jesus would be their salvation, freeing them from sin in this life and raising them up to eternal life. The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph marveled, but not because they did not know who Christ was. They were in awe at the way God was revealing Him. 

The paradox of blessedness:  Mary was given the blessedness of being the mother of the Son of God.  That blessedness also would become a sword which would pierce her heart as her Son died upon the cross. The words Simeon addressed to Mary announced that she would be intimately linked with her Son's redemptive work.  The sword indicated that Mary would have a share in her Son's sufferings. Her suffering would be an unspeakable pain which would pierce her soul.  Our Lord suffered on the cross for our sins, and it is those sins which forged the sword of Mary's pain.  Mary received both a crown of joy and a cross of sorrow.  But her joy was not diminished by her sorrow because it was fueled by her faith, hope, and trust in God and his promises.  Jesus promised his disciples, "no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22).  The Lord gives us a supernatural joy which enables us to bear any sorrow or pain and which neither life nor death can take way.  Do you know the joy of a life fully surrendered to God with faith and trust? According to Dr. Scot Hann, the feast we celebrate shows a curious turn of events. The Redeemer is redeemed. She who is all-pure presents herself to be purified. Such is the humility of our God. Such is the humility of the Blessed Virgin. They submit to the law even though they are not bound by it.

Anna’s encounter with the Lord and her testifying to the Messiah:  Anna was an eighty-four-year-old widow who spent her days in the Temple in fasting and prayer, waiting for the promised Messiah. She was rewarded with the joy of seeing her Redeemer as a Baby. In her excitement, she praised God and introduced the Infant to others around her as the expected Messiah. Supernatural hope grows with prayer and age!  Anna was pre-eminently a woman of great hope and expectation that God would fulfill all his promises. She is a model of godliness for all believers as we advance in age.  Advancing age and the disappointments of life can easily make us cynical and hopeless if we do not have our hope placed rightly. Anna's hope in God and His promises grew with age. She never ceased to worship God in faith and to pray with hope.  Her hope and faith in God's promises fueled her indomitable zeal and fervor in prayer and the service of God's people. We grow in hope by placing our trust in the promises of Jesus Christ and relying not on our own strength, but on the grace and help of the Holy Spirit. After completing the presentation and redemption of baby Jesus and the ritual purification of Mary and the meeting with Simeon and Anna, Joseph and Mary understood more fully their responsibility before God to protect the child as they return to Nazareth

Life messages : 1)  Every Holy Mass in which we participate is our presentation . Although we were officially presented to God on the day of our Baptism, we present ourselves and our dear ones on the altar before God our Father through our Savior Jesus Christ at every Holy Mass. Hence, we need to live our daily lives with the awareness both that we are dedicated people consecrated to God and that we are obliged to lead holy lives.

2) We need the assistance of the Holy Spirit to recognize the presence of Jesus in ourselves and in others: All those who, like Simeon and Anna, persevere in piety and in the service of God, no matter how insignificant their lives seem in men's eyes, become instruments the Holy Spirit uses to make Christ known to others. In His plan of redemption, God makes use of these simple souls to do much good for all mankind. In other words, The Holy Spirit employs ordinary men and women with simple faith as His instruments to bear witness to Christ, His ideals and teachings, just as He used Simeon and Anna.  The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Lord to us when we are receptive and eager to receive Him.  Let us be open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit within us to recognize the indwelling presence of the Lord with us and in others.  (Fr. Antony Kadavil)

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• The Deeper Meaning of the Presentation in the Temple

By Clement Harrold

For many Catholics, the fourth joyful mystery—the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple—can be a difficult scene to meditate on. What’s the episode about, anyway? And what might be its deeper meaning?

Beginning with the first question, it’s important to remember that the Presentation described in Luke 2:22-38 is not the circumcision of Jesus. That already took place eight days after His birth. Rather, the Presentation took place in order to fulfill two different dictates of the Mosaic Law.

The first of these, drawn from Leviticus 12, mandated that mothers needed to be purified forty days after giving birth to a male child. This is why the Presentation is celebrated in the Church’s calendar on February 2nd—also known as “Candlemas,” an allusion to Simeon’s words about the boy Jesus being “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Lk 2:32)—because the event takes place forty days after the nativity (counting December 25 as day one).

In order to make the purification, the mother in question was required to sacrifice a lamb as well as either a pigeon or a turtledove. The law made provision, however, for those families who were too poor to afford a lamb, in which case they could sacrifice two pigeons or two turtledoves instead. St. Luke goes out of his way to inform the reader that this is exactly what the Holy Family did, thereby reminding us of their material poverty (see Lk 2:24).

The second precept of the Mosaic Law which Mary and Joseph were following is the requirement from Exodus 13:2 that all firstborns be consecrated to God in a special way. More specifically, this ritual rested on the understanding that the firstborn naturally belonged to God, and so the child’s human parents were expected to “redeem” (from the Latin redimō , meaning to “buy back”) their child by paying five shekels to the priest.

All of this helps us to see that the Presentation in the Temple was about two important things: (1) the purification of Mary and (2) the redemption of baby Jesus. So far so good. But there are two other elements here which are worth paying attention to. For one thing, the Mosaic Law nowhere demanded that the purification or the redemption take place within the Temple. This means that the Holy Family was being extra devout by going to the Temple for this special day.

Additionally, there is one detail in the Presentation narrative which is startling for its absence. While St. Luke does mention that Mary and Joseph bought the two turtledoves, he never takes the time to mention the paying of the five shekels to redeem baby Jesus. In other words, he cites the redeeming-of-the-firstborns precept laid down in Exodus 13:2, but he leaves out a description of this redemption taking place. Why might that be?

For the late Pope Benedict XVI, in his Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives , the answer was obvious. St. Luke leaves a literary silence in the passage in order to drive home the point that the infant Jesus belongs to His Heavenly Father:

Evidently Luke intends to say that instead of being “redeemed” and restored to his parents, this child was personally handed over to God in the Temple, given over completely to God. . . . Luke has nothing to say regarding the act of “redemption” prescribed by the law. In its place we find the exact opposite: the child is handed over to God, and from now on belongs to him completely. (p. 3)

Understanding this detail can help us bring the fourth joyful mystery to life in a new way. The Presentation isn’t just another boring religious ritual. On the contrary, it is a deeply symbolic moment pointing to Jesus’s divine identity, and to Mary and Joseph’s perfect cooperation with His divine mission.

Further Reading:

http://jimmyakin.com/how-the-accounts-of-jesus-childhood-fit-together

https://www.ncregister.com/blog/whats-happening-at-the-presentation-of-the-lord

Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives (Image, 2012)

Clement Harrold is a graduate student in theology at the University of Notre Dame. His writings have appeared in  First Things ,  Church Life Journal ,  Crisis Magazine , and the  Washington Examiner . He earned his bachelor's degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2021.

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The liturgical year invites us to walk with Jesus through the most wonderful story ever told: the Gospel. In  Through the Year with Jesus: Gospel Readings and Reflections for Children , catechist and popular blogger Katherine Bogner reveals the rich mystery of the seasons we celebrate in the Church.

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• Giving Children the Gift of Our Time
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Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

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The Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple

The law of God, given by Moses to the Jews, to insinuate both to us and to them, that by the sin of Adam man is conceived and born in sin, and obnoxious to his wrath, ordained that a woman, after childbirth, should continue for a certain time in a state which that law calls unclean; during which she was not to appear in public, nor presume to touch any thing consecrated to God. This term was of forty days upon the birth of a son, and the time was double for a daughter: on the expiration of which, the mother was to bring to the door of the tabernacle, or temple, a lamb of a year old. and a young pigeon or turtle-dove. The lamb was for a holocaust, or burnt-offering, in acknowledgment of the sovereignty of God, and in thanksgiving for her own happy delivery; the pigeon or turtle-dove was for a sin-offering. These being sacrificed to Almighty God by the priest, the woman was cleansed of the legal impurity, and reinstated in her former privileges.

A young pigeon, or turtle-dove, by way of a sin-offering, was required of all, whether rich or poor: but whereas the charge of a lamb might be too burdensome on persons of narrow circumstances, in that case, nothing more was required, then two pigeons, or two turtle-doves, one for a burnt, the other for a sin-offering.

Our Saviour having been conceived by the Holy Ghost, and his blessed Mother remaining always a spotless virgin, it is most evident from the terms of the law, that she was, in reality, under no obligation to it, nor within the intent of it. She was, however, within the letter of the law, in the eye of the world, who were as yet strangers to her miraculous conception. And her humility making her perfectly resigned, and even desirous to conceal her privilege and dignity, she submitted with great punctuality and exactness to every humbling circumstance which the law required. Pride indeed proclaims its own advantages, and seeks honors not its due; but the humble find their delight in obscurity and abasement, they shun all distinction and esteem which they clearly see their own nothingness and baseness to be most unworthy of: they give all glory to God alone, to whom it is due. Devotion also and zeal to honor God by every observance prescribed by his law, prompted Mary to perform this act of religion, though evidently exempt from the precept. Being poor herself; she made the offering appointed for the poor: accordingly is this part of the law mentioned by St. Luke, as best agreeing with the meanness of her worldly condition. But her offering, however mean in itself, was made with a perfect heart, which is what God chiefly regards in all that is offered to him. The King of Glory would appear everywhere in the robes of poverty, to point out to us the advantages of a suffering and lowly state, and to repress our pride, by which, though really poor and mean in the eyes of God, we covet to appear rich, and, though sinners, would be deemed innocents and saints.

A second great mystery is honored this day, regarding more immediately the person of our Redeemer, viz. his presentation in the temple. Besides the law which obliged the mother to purify herself, there was another which ordered that the first-born son should be offered to God: and in these two laws were included several others, as, that the child, after its presentation, should be ransomed with a certain sum of money, and peculiar sacrifices offered on the occasion.

Mary complies exactly with all these ordinances. She obeys not only in the essential points of the law, as in presenting herself to be purified, and in her offering her first-born, but has strict regard to all the circumstances. She remains forty days at home, she denies herself all this time the liberty of. entering the temple, she partakes not of things sacred, though the living temple of the God of Israel; and on the day of her purification, she walks several miles to Jerusalem, with the world's Redeemer in her arms. She waits for the priest at the gate of the temple, makes her offerings of thanksgiving and expiation, presents her divine Son by the hands of the priest to his eternal Father, with the most profound humility, adoration, and thanksgiving. She then redeems him with five shekels, as the law appoints, and receives him back again as a depositum in her special care, till the Father shall again demand him for the full accomplishment of man's redemption. It is clear that Christ was not comprehended in the law; "The king's son, to whom the inheritance of the crown belongs, is exempt from servitude:- much more Christ, who was the Redeemer both of our souls and bodies, was not subject to any law by which he was to be himself redeemed," as St. Hilary observes. But he would set an example of humility, obedience, and devotion: and would renew, in a solemn and public manner, and in the temple, the oblation of himself to his Father for the accomplishment of his will, and the redemption of man, which he had made privately in the first moment of his Incarnation. With what sentiments did the divine Infant offer himself to his Father at the same time! the greatest homage of his honour and glory the Father could receive, and a sacrifice of satisfaction adequate to the injuries done to the Godhead by our sins, and sufficient to ransom our souls from everlasting death! With what cheerfulness and charity did he offer himself to all his torments! to be whipped, crowned with thorns, and ignominiously put to death for us!

Let every Christian learn hence to offer himself to God with this divine victim, through which he may be accepted by the Father; let him devote himself with all his senses and faculties to his service. If sloth, or any other vice, has made us neglectful of this essential duty, we must bewail past omissions, and make a solemn and serious consecration of ourselves this day to the divine majesty with the greater fervor, crying out with St. Austin, in compunction of heart: "Too late have I known thee, too late have I begun to love thee, O beauty more ancient than the world!" But our sacrifice, if we desire it may be accepted, must not be lame and imperfect. It would be an insult to offer to God, in union with his Christ, a divided heart, or a heart infected with wilful sin. It must therefore first be cleansed by tears of sincere compunction: its affections must be crucified to the world by perfect mortification. Our offering must be sincere and fervent, without reserve, allowing no quarter to any of our vicious passions and inclinations, and no division in any of our affections. It must also be universal; to suffer and to do all for the divine honor. If we give our hearts to Christ in this manner, we shall receive him with his graces and benedictions. He would be presented in the temple by the hands of his mother: let us accordingly make the offering of our souls through Mary and beg his graces through the same channel.

The ceremony of this day was closed by a third mystery, the. meeting in the temple of the holy persons, Simeon and Anne, with Jesus and his parents, from which this festival was anciently called by the Greeks Hypante, the meeting. Holy Simeon, on that occasion, received into his arms the object of all his desires and sighs, and praised God in raptures of devotion for being blessed with the happiness of beholding the so much longed-for Messias. He foretold to Mary her martyrdom of sorrow; and that Jesus brought redemption to those who would accept of it on the terms it was offered them; but a heavy judgment on all infidels who should obstinately reject it, and on Christians also whose lives were a contradiction to his holy maxims and example. Mary, hearing this terrible prediction, did not answer one word, felt no agitation of mind from the present, no dread for the future; but courageously and sweetly committed all to God's holy will. Anne also, the prophetess, who, in her widowhood, served God with great fervor, had the happiness to acknowledge and adore in this great mystery the world's Redeemer. Amidst the crowd of priests and people, the Saviour of the world is known only by Simeon and Anne. Even when he disputed with the doctors, and when he wrought the most stupendous miracles, the learned, the wise, and the princes did not know him. Yet here, while a weak, speechless child, carried in the arms of his poor mother, he is acknowledged and adored by Simeon and Anne. He could not hide himself from those who sought him with fervor, humility, and ardent love. Unless we seek him in these dispositions, he will not manifest himself, nor communicate his graces to us. Simeon, having beheld his Saviour in the flesh, desired no longer to see the light of this world, nor any creatures on earth If we truly love God, our distance from him must be a continual pain: and we must sigh after that desired moment which will free us from the danger of ever losing him by sin, and will put us in possession of Him who is the joy of the blessed, and the infinite treasure of heaven. Let us never cease to pray that he purify our hearts from all earthly dross, and draw them to himself: that he heal, satiate, and inflame our souls, as he only came upon earth to kindle in all hearts the fire of his love.

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The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

February 2, 2020 By Carrie Willard 1 Comment

Today is the day that many Christians remember and honor the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, or the event in scripture when Mary and Joseph brought the infant Jesus to the Temple. This event would have been to complete the purification of Mary and to offer the child to God in their obedience to the laws of Moses.

When I reflect on this event, I think about Mother Mary, scraping up enough money to buy two turtle doves, the sacrifice required to bring with them.

Was she still sore from childbirth? Did she feel like a mother yet? Was the baby sleeping at all? Did she have help?

When my husband and I traveled home for my father-in-law’s funeral when our firstborn was just six weeks old (about the same age as Jesus was during his presentation in the temple), I did not know how to fold up our stroller. I relied on TSA agents at the airport to help me figure everything out. And yet, everywhere we went, strangers complimented me on our baby. I didn’t know what to wear, but I knew I was completely in love with my baby. Time took on a warped quality, where I knew exactly how many weeks and days old my baby was, but I couldn’t have told you the day of the week or the season of the year. Friends and family fed us, but I was solely responsible for feeding this new life. How did Mary feel as she ascended the steps to the temple?

My friend Jenny Schroedel, an Orthodox Christian, wrote a beautiful reflection about her first six weeks with her baby as she followed the Orthodox tradition of “nesting in” with her baby. She describes the holiness of the 40-day-period following a baby’s birth. There are echoes of this in other aspects of Christian life: the 40 days of Lent and the 40 days and nights of rain of the Great Flood. Most pregnancies last about 40 weeks, and so 40 days does not seem like too long of a time to let a mother’s body recover. I wonder if Mary felt the same time-warped feeling that many of us do as she adjusted to life as a mother.

What makes the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple even more notable in Christian life, to me, is what the Holy Family found once they arrived. Simeon, a “righteous and devout” man, according to the Gospel of Luke, had been waiting for the salvation of Israel. Christians remember his words in the canticle “Nunc Dimittis,” which means “Now You Dismiss:”

Simeon knew, when he saw the infant Jesus, that what he had hoped for, prayed for, waited for, had come. Mother Mary may have been wondering if the shepherds and the wise men were all part of a postpartum haze, but here they were, re-entering public life as a family, and a prophet is waiting for them to affirm everything they had been told. I imagine Simeon, who waited for a sign from God, and found it in an infant.

In the Episcopal Church, we often repeat Simeon’s words during Evening Prayer and Compline, liturgies that can be said at the end of any day. It reminds us of the many who waited their entire lives for the good news of Jesus, a “light to enlighten the nations.” For those of us who are waiting, for those of us who feel like we are in a timeless haze, and for those of us who need to be reminded of the enormous good news of Jesus, this event helps us mark time in the life of Jesus and in the life of the Church for which we can be grateful.

[Image Credit: Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons ]

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February 2, 2020 at 4:26 pm

Lovely and thoughtful reflection. Thank you for blessing me with a new perspective on a familiar story!

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PRESENTATION OF JESUS IN THE TEMPLE (Luke 2: 21)

Back to: CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES JSS2

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In today’s Christian Religious Studies class, We will be discussing “Presentation of Jesus in the Temple” . We hope you enjoy the class!

Jesus Presented in the Temple

Eight days after the birth of Jesus, He was circumcised and named Jesus, as given by the angel even before He was conceived. Then it was time for the purification offering, as required by the law of Moses after the birth of a child; so his parents took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. The law of the Lord says, “If a woman’s first child is a boy, he must be dedicated to the Lord.” So they offered a sacrifice according to what was required in the law of the Lord “either a pair of turtle doves or two young pigeons.”

The Importance of a Child’s Presentation in the Church

The Jewish practice of presenting the firstborn to the Lord has been adopted by the church. But in our churches today, we do not only present the firstborn but all our children. Presentation of our children is for the purpose of christening the child and giving him/her a Christian name.

Two people of God made prophecies during the presentation of Jesus.

The Prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:25-35)

Simeon was a righteous and devout man. He lived in Jerusalem and had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would see Jesus before his death. So he was in the temple when he was brought for presentation, he took Jesus in his arms and blessed God.

The Significance of the Prophecy of Simeon

• The first part of Simeon’s prophecy refers to God’s plan to save mankind. With the birth of Jesus Christ, God fulfilled His plan to save the world.
• The second part of Simeon’s prophecy refers to the response of the Israelites to the ministry of Jesus that as many people that accepted Jesus would be saved and those who reject Him would not be saved.
• The sign of a sword piercing through Mary’s soul refers to the anxious moments that Mary would experience as Jesus carried out His ministry. And Mary had such moments during the arrest, trial and death of Jesus.

The Prophecy of Anna (Luke 2:36-40)

Anna was an old woman of 84 years, a prophetess and the daughter of Phanuel of the tribe of Asher. She was a widow and lived with her husband for seven years before his death. All her time in the temple, worshipping God with prayers and fasting day and night.

She was in the temple during the presentation of Jesus, she gave thanks to God and spoke of Jesus Christ to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.

The Significance of the Prophecy of Anna

Anna’s prophecy confirmed the fact that the time to save the world had come, with the birth of Jesus.

Moral Lessons

• We must learn to pray to God through Jesus Christ to help us cooperate with all those who are older than us in training us to be obedient, respectful and hardworking so that we can grow up to become upright and responsible Christian citizens.
• We must learn to see ourselves as children of God walking in the light of Christ and avoid all the deeds of darkness.

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Where Can We See Jesus' Power and Authority on Full Display?

Throughout the Gospels, when the Pharisees encountered Jesus, they sought “signs” that proved He was Who He said He was. But Jesus worked within His divine timeframe and not at the whim and wiles of the Jewish religious leaders. Where do we see Jesus’ power and authority on display in the Bible?

Why Did Jesus Come to Earth?

No doubt Jesus exposed His power and authority in the Bible. A look at why He said He came will give us fuller realization and wonder when we regard the Bible passages which record His acts of power and authority. The Gospels and epistles are filled with mentions of Jesus’ purposes. In them, Jesus and then His Apostles reveal why He came . A few are listed here:

- To fulfill the Law and the Prophets ( Matthew 5:17 ).

- To testify to the truth ( John 18:37 ).

- To preach the Gospel of the kingdom ( Mark 1:38 ).

- To seek and save the lost ( John 19:10 ).

- To usher in eternal life to those who believe in Him ( John 3:16 ).

- To serve and give His life as a ransom for many ( Mark 10:45 ).

- To display God’s righteousness ( Romans 3:25-26 ).

- To destroy the works of the devil ( 1 John 3:8 ).

Fully human and fully God, Jesus shared in our frailty ( Isaiah 52:14 ; 53; Hebrews 2:17 ), but did not relinquish His divine power, for humility is not abandonment . Dr. Stephen Nichols observes, “He did not empty Himself of His divine nature. Jesus is truly God. He could not stop being God.” For every purpose in the list above, Jesus presented His power and authority for each one.

Given all the reasons He came, the Bible gives us many instances where Jesus displayed His power and authority. Jesus’ works of power always connected with His mission — to testify about who He is and about His work ( Luke 7:18-23 ; John 10:25 ; John 21:24-25 ).

Where Do We See Jesus’ Power and Authority on Display in the Bible?

To begin our investigation of Jesus’ revealed power and authority, we’ll look at His self-designations.

Jesus referred to Himself most often (100+ times) as the Son of Man   —  His Messianic title, and a title author Mike Nappa says, “emphasized the awesome power of His divine nature” ( Daniel 7:13 ; Mark 14:62 ).

Other titles used for Jesus which allude to His sovereignty include but are not limited to:

• Lord ( 1 Corinthians 8:6 )
• Christ ( Matthew 1:16 ; 16:16)
• Son of God ( Romans 1:3-4 )

Jesus did not veil His power or His authority; we see it shown in the following accounts:

Jesus Turned Water to Wine ( John 2:1-11 ) 

This was the first of His signs (miracles). “This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested His glory. And his disciples believed in Him.”

Jesus Knows Men’s Hearts ( John 2:25 , Romans 8:27 )

In this account of the interaction between Jesus and many who believed, Jesus “did not entrust Himself to them,” i.e., He didn’t “believe in them.” They were witnesses to His great signs and understood a little of who he is, but they didn’t fully believe in Him for salvation. Theirs was an experiential-based faith and was not grounded upon the Gospel. Jesus, as our omniscient God, knew this about them because of His knowledge of all men’s hearts.

Jesus Forgave Sins ( Luke 5:17-26 )

As Jesus taught in Capernaum ( Mark 2:1 ), “Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Him to heal.” The crowds so pressed into the house there was no more room for people to enter through the door. Some men brought a paralyzed man for Jesus to heal, but seeing the crowd, they opened a way on the house’s roof and lowered the paralytic before Jesus. “And when He saw their faith, He said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’”

The Scribes and the Pharisees accused Jesus of blasphemy, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” The text tells us Jesus perceived their thoughts and replied, “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” — he said to the man who was paralyzed — “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”

Jesus Fulfilled the Prophecies from the Old Testament ( Luke 4:16-30 )

While in His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and, as was His custom, read from a scroll. That particular day, He read the passage from Isaiah 61:1-2a , “perhaps the most important of over two-thousand Old Testament prophecies that point to the coming Redeemer and Messiah.” And when He finished, he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.

The standard for synagogue sermons was the teacher would sit down to give his sermon, with the people at his feet. For Jesus to have read the Isaiah passage while standing and then to sit down was to raise the expectation of the crowd for the sermon to come. What followed was what R. C. Sproul called the shortest sermon ever preached. Sitting, Jesus then declared, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”  

The audience was shocked that Joseph’s son said these things, but Jesus dispatched the Jewish leaders’ wrong thinking by pronouncing condemnation on the Jews with two historical accounts from the Old Testament. They illustrated how Elijah didn’t go to the widows or the lepers of Israel. Therefore, Jesus inferred, He wasn’t going to come to Israel’s sinners.

The crowd was so filled with wrath, they sought to kill Him, but “passing through their midst, He went away.” They were left to chew on what Jesus had just taught them.

Jesus Cleansed Lepers ( Matthew 8:1-4 )

Immediately following the greatest sermon ever preached ( Matthew 5-7 ), Jesus descended the mountain, and great crowds followed Him. Among them appeared a leper who implored Jesus to help him, “Lord, if You will, You can make me clean.” The leper was not arrogant or demanding; he displayed great humility and faith that Jesus could do what he’d heard. Jesus displayed His will to heal, and stretched out His hand and touched the leper, saying, “‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Jesus then told the now former leper, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” In Matthew 5:17 , Jesus said He came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets. He is not contrary to God’s law; He brings it to completion. The whole point of Jesus cleansing the leper according to God’s law is this; Jesus declares him clean by His own authority, and that would be the proof to the priest of Jesus’ assertion.

Jesus Exorcized Demons ( Luke 8:26-39 )

When Jesus and His disciples arrived by boat in the land of the Gerasenes, He was met by man possessed by not only one demon, but many. “Jesus then asked him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Legion,’ for many demons had entered him.” Jesus, with but a word, commanded the demons to leave the man.

Jesus Healed the Sick ( Matthew 8:16 )

“ That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. ”  Jesus’ ministry included healing .

Jesus Raised the Dead ( John 11:1-44 )

No human can raise the dead by our own power — that supernatural act belongs only to the sovereign Lord.

Jesus Proclaimed He and the Father Are One ( John 8:58 ; 10:30; 17:11) 

Jesus identified Himself as God when the soldiers came to seize Him from the Garden of Gethsemane. “Before Abraham was, I AM,” ( John 8:58 -) was a bold proclamation made by Jesus that He is God! Jesus, in His high Priestly prayer, declared He and the Father are One.

Jesus Created the Heavens and the Earth ( John 1:1 )

As the Apostle attested, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” So too he testified to this truth in His Gospel account and, no doubt, as he witnessed to others. John also stated, “All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made” ( John 1:3 ).

Jesus Has Ultimate Power over Creation ( Luke 8:22-25 )

One day while in a boat with His disciples, a fierce storm arose on the Sea of Galilee, filling their boat with water. Yet Jesus slept until the disciples awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Jesus first “rebuked the wind and the raging waves,” and then rebuked the disciples by asking them, “Where is your faith?” It’s possible Jesus only needed to say, “shhh” for the storm to abate.

Jesus Alone Lived a Sinless Life by the Power of God ( 2 Corinthians 5:21 )

His sinless life paved the way for those who believe in Him to be declared righteous by God.

Jesus Said the Only Way to the Father Is through Him ( John 14:6 )

No mere mortal, no works, nothing save the grace of God through Jesus Christ can draw a person to God and salvation.

On the Cross, Jesus Took the Full Wrath of God ( Isaiah 53:10-11 ; Mark 10:38 ; Galatians 3:13 ; 1 John 2:2 ).

The Isaiah passage is the prophecy of God’s wrath being poured out on Christ. The passage in Mark references the “cup of God’s wrath” which Jesus is about to endure, and 1 John 2:2 specifically mentions propitiation – which appeases God’s wrath. This is the power of Christ on the cross, for only God could bear the full brunt of His own eternal wrath and do so in a matter of hours.

Jesus Was Resurrected unto Eternal Life ( Luke 24:1-12 )

Jesus was not resurrected to have to face death again; His is an eternal state of life.

Jesus Openly Ascended to Heaven ( Matthew 28:16-20 ) 

When His disciples saw Jesus in Galilee after His resurrection , He charged them with the Great Commission (one of all power and all authority ). “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Jesus Intercedes for Christians ( Hebrews 7:25 )

Jesus never pauses in His intercession for Christians.

What Is the Ultimate Manifestation of Jesus’ Power and Authority?

Revelation 19-22 shows us the glorious appearing of the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who ultimately and eternally judges the sinner and eternally saves the elect.

So what should we do with these truths? In short, we are to believe and obey His Gospel ( Acts 17:30-31 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-10 ).

We are also to obey Jesus’ greatest and second greatest commandments, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” ( Matthew 22:37-40 ).

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Were Jesus and the Holy Spirit present at creation?

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When reading the Old Testament, it can be easy to forget that the Holy Trinity is present through all the events of salvation history.

This means that Jesus and the Holy Spirit were present, though not fully revealed to us, in every event mentioned in the Bible.

The Word at creation

St. John begins his gospel by proclaiming that the truth that Jesus was present at creation, referred to as “the Word”:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God ; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms that creation was a work of the Holy Trinity, including Jesus:

The New Testament reveals that God created everything by the eternal Word, his beloved Son. In him “all things were created, in heaven and on earth.. . all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” CCC 291

In the tradition of Eastern Orthodox Christians, it is Jesus who is visually represented in icons of the Creation. It is a helpful reminder that creation was indeed an act of the Trinity.

The Breath of God

The Holy Spirit can be more clearly seen in the book of Genesis, as the Bible begins by stating how the “Spirit of God” hovered over creation:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. Genesis 1:1-2

The Hebrew word used by the biblical writer was ruah , and Christian theologians have repeatedly pointed to it as the first reference to the Holy Spirit. Lea Sestieri wrote in her  article “The Jewish Roots of the Holy Spirit”: “Although in Jewish scripture the Holy Spirit is never presented as a person but rather as a divine power capable of transforming the human being and the world, the fact remains that Christian pneumatological terminology is rooted in that of the Jewish religion.”

She continues, “The term ‘Spirit’ translates the Hebrew word ‘Ruah,’ which in its primary sense means breath, air, wind. Jesus indeed uses the sensory image of the wind to suggest to Nicodemus the transcendent newness of him who is personally God’s breath the divine Spirit’ (CCC 691).”

The Trinity may not be specifically named in the book of Genesis, but it is clear that they are there, present throughout all time and for all eternity.

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What Was Jesus' Real Name? The Path From Hebrew to Today

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Have you ever wondered how the historical figure known as Jesus was actually referred to in his own time and place? Hint: It wasn't by that name.

So then, what was Jesus' real name , and how did it evolve?

Imagine early Christians spreading their faith across diverse regions, each with its own language and cultural norms. As they translated the teachings of a man named "Yeshua," the name transformed, adapting to Greek, Latin and other tongues.

This journey is not just about linguistics but about the fascinating story of how a name — and a message — traveled through time and across continents, shaping history as we know it.

What Was Jesus' Name in Hebrew?

How 'yeshua' became lost in translation, what about the surname 'christ', jesus' name in folklore, does pronunciation matter.

The name "Jesus" derives from the Hebrew name "Yeshua" (ישוע), which is a contraction of "Yehoshua" (יהושע), meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "Yahweh saves."

In Christian theology , Jesus' name emphasizes his role as the savior, reflecting the belief that he was sent by God to save humanity from sin and death.

In the New Testament , the angel Gabriel instructs Mary to name her son Jesus "because he will save his people from their sins" ( Matthew 1:21 ). This aligns with the messianic expectations of a deliverer in Jewish tradition.

Greek Transliteration

"Yehoshua" is rendered as "Joshua" in English translations of the Old Testament to differentiate it from the Greek form used in the New Testament. For example, Joshua, the successor of Moses, is called "Yehoshua" in Hebrew, which is translated as "Joshua" in English-language bibles.

When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek in the Septuagint — a process traditionally attributed to Jewish scholars in the 3rd to 2nd centuries B.C.E. — "Yehoshua" was rendered as "Iēsous." This translation made the texts accessible to Greek-speaking Jewish people of the time.

Greek did not have a direct equivalent for the Hebrew "sh" sound, and the ending "-s" was added to make the name fit Greek grammar conventions for male names. This same Greek name, "Iēsous," was used in the New Testament to refer to the historical Jesus of Nazareth.

It took many centuries for "Yeshua" to evolve into "Jesus," and it appears to have begun the shift in the aforementioned Greek transliteration "Iēsous."

As Christianity spread to the Roman world, "Iēsous" was transliterated into Latin as "Iesus." Latin lacked the "sh" sound and used "s" instead. Also, Latin did not use the letter "J" then, so the initial "I" was retained.

In Medieval English, the letter "j" began to be used as distinct from "i." This linguistic shift, where "J" evolved from "I" to represent a consonant sound, led to "Iesus" becoming "Jesus" in English.

This change was part of a broader trend in the 16th century, where the Latin "I" at the beginning of words was replaced by "J." This development standardized the "j" sound in words and names, marking a significant change in English orthography .

The 1611 King James Bible standardized the spelling as "Jesus," solidifying its usage in the English-speaking world. By this time, the pronunciation and spelling of "Jesus" had been fully integrated into English.

Contrary to Western naming conventions, "Christ" is not actually Jesus' last name. It's a title that comes from the Greek word "Christos" (Χριστός), which means "anointed one" or "messiah." This term is a translation of the Hebrew word "Mashiach" (מָשִׁיחַ), also meaning "anointed one."

In ancient Israel, anointing a person with oil was a ritual act that conferred a special status or mission, typically for kings, priests and prophets.

In the New Testament, "Christos" is used as a title for Jesus, signifying that he is the anointed one sent by God to fulfill the messianic prophecies of the Old Testament. For example, in Matthew 16:16 , Peter declares, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God," identifying Jesus as the promised Messiah.

The term "Christ" was gradually adopted into Latin as "Christus" and then into English as "Christ." It became an integral part of Jesus' name in the Christian tradition and in the Catholic Church.

The name of Jesus has a rich presence in folklore and cultural traditions across different regions and historical periods. In folklore, his name is often imbued with mystical and protective qualities, reflecting the deep reverence and significance attributed to him in various cultures.

In many Christian traditions, invoking the name of Jesus is believed to have protective and healing powers. This belief is rooted in biblical passages such as Acts 3:6 , where Peter heals a man with a disability by saying, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

This idea carried into folklore, where people would invoke Jesus' name to ward off evil spirits, protect against harm and seek divine intervention in times of need.

Folk Tales and Spirituals

Numerous tales in European folklore depict Jesus wandering the earth, often disguised as a traveler in need. These stories emphasize virtues such as humility, charity, and kindness. For instance, in the German folk tale " The Three Green Twigs " by the Brothers Grimm, Jesus appears as a poor beggar to test a hermit's compassion.

Another example is the French legend of " Saint Nicholas and the Three Boys ," where Jesus, disguised as a pilgrim, aids Saint Nicolas in resurrecting three murdered children, rewarding the saint's kindness.

The name of Jesus also appears frequently in folk songs and prayers, reflecting its spiritual significance. In many traditional hymns and spirituals, calling on Jesus' name is associated with seeking comfort, guidance, and salvation.

For example, the hymn " What a Friend We Have in Jesus " expresses deep personal faith and reliance on Jesus for solace and support. Another well-known spiritual, " Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me ," seeks Jesus' guidance and protection through life's challenges. The song "Sweet Jesus" in Appalachian folk tradition also highlights the comforting presence of Jesus.

Modern Folklore

In contemporary times, the name of Jesus continues to play a role in modern folklore and popular culture. Stories of miracles and divine interventions attributed to invoking Jesus' name are common in evangelical and charismatic Christian communities.

For example, testimonies of healing miracles are frequently shared in services and gatherings, such as those reported during events held by evangelists like Benny Hinn.

Another instance is the widespread story of " The Miracle of the Hudson River ," where some passengers attributed their survival of the plane crash to prayers invoking Jesus' name.

These modern tales often circulate through word of mouth, religious gatherings and media, such as Christian television networks like TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) and social media platforms.

What if you don't pronounce Jesus' name the "right" way? Well, in most religious traditions, the pronunciation of names, including that of Jesus, is less important than the reverence and intention behind the invocation.

In Christianity

In Christianity, the emphasis is generally on the heart and intention of the person praying rather than the precise pronunciation of his name. The Christian Bible underscores the sincerity of prayer and faith, as seen in Romans 10:13 : "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved," without specifying the exact pronunciation. This suggests that God understands and values the intent behind the prayer over the phonetic details.

Judaism emphasizes the proper pronunciation of Hebrew in prayers and sacred texts like the Hebrew Bible. However, the overall intent and respect in addressing God are considered crucial. While pronunciation is important, God understands the intentions and efforts of the worshiper.

In Islam, while pronunciation is important for proper recitation of prayers and Quranic verses, the sincerity of the believer's faith and respect is paramount. Muslims believe that God understands all languages and intentions, so the exact pronunciation, while respectful, is not a barrier to being heard by God.

While the Quran is recited in Arabic, the emphasis on sincerity and intention is highlighted throughout the text. For example, Surah Al-Baqarah (2:186) states , "And when My servants ask you concerning Me, indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me."

Across Faiths

From a broader spiritual perspective, many believe God is omniscient and omnipresent, understanding all languages, dialects and intentions. The essence of prayer and invocation is the faith and sincerity behind it.

Mispronunciations due to linguistic differences or lack of knowledge are generally seen as secondary to the genuine intent of the individual.

We created this article in conjunction with AI technology, then made sure it was fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

In 1980, archaeologists discovered the Talpiot Tomb in Jerusalem, containing 10 ossuaries, some inscribed with names such as "Jesus son of Joseph," "Mary," and "Judah son of Jesus." This led to speculation that it might be the family tomb of Jesus of Nazareth, particularly after a 2007 documentary by James Cameron and Simcha Jacobovici popularized the idea. However, these names were common in the first century, casting doubt on their connection to Jesus Christ. Critics argue that their prevalence diminishes the likelihood of a direct link.

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A Ky. teen told his graduating class Jesus is 'your answer.' Now he's facing consequences

A Northern Kentucky high school student's graduation speech sparked debate over the weekend after he urged his classmates to seek Jesus Christ as "your answer" for "the way, the truth and life."

He didn't receive his diploma and was asked to meet with his school principal because he added the religious message to his pre-approved speech, according to videos he posted on TikTok.

Micah Price said online, "I was told beforehand I wasn’t allowed to bring up Christ. ... I did anyways."

He graduated May 24 from Campbell County High School in Alexandria, about 30 minutes south of Cincinnati. The high school, which has about 1,500 students, draws from a predominantly suburban and rural part of the county.

Price said in his speech: "Class, before another word is to leave my mouth I must give the honor, the praise, and the glory to my lord and savior Jesus Christ, who in his very words tells us he is the light, he is the way, the truth and life. Class, anyone in the audience today, I'm here to tell you that if you don't have any of those things in your life and can't seem to find the answer, then my lord and savior is your answer."

More: 2024 high school graduates, tell us about your plans for the future

Teen took to TikTok

After the graduation at Truist Arena at Northern Kentucky University, he said an assistant principal told him he'd have to speak to the district school board about what he did because he went "off-script" during the speech.

"I went against school policy, school rules. I went against that because I serve a higher power because I serve Christ. I do no one's bidding but God," he said in a TikTok on Sunday. "So, if anyone’s in the wrong, I am. I deserve to get punished.”

He went on to say he isn't sure if it's normal to have not received a diploma days after graduation.

Courtney Sauerbeck, Schools and Community Educator Director for the district, did not respond to a phone call and emailed questions by The Enquirer.

However, Superintendent Shelli Wilson told Local 12 in a statement Price was permitted to thank his "lord and savior Jesus Christ" at the beginning of the speech. But he added statements telling classmates to seek God.

"All speakers were told that going off their submitted speech, or any unplanned choices at graduation, may have repercussions as they would at any school function," Wilson said in the statement to Local 12.

'Take a chill pill'

A video of Price's speech was posted and shared online and hundreds of people have weighed in on the controversy.

"This is an amazing young man who had courage to step out and do what most adults are scared to do! He will be rewarded for sharing the good news of Jesus!" one Facebook commenter said.

"Send your kids to a religious school if you want them to freely talk about your god and all that. This is a public school. I for one do not want to listen to the ramblings of any religion at my son’s graduation. I know dang well that if this student was Muslim and was praying y’all would lose your freaking minds," another posted.

In other comments, people urged the public to attend the next Campbell County Board of Education meeting at 6 p.m. June 17 at the Alexandria Education Center to stand in support of Price.

On Monday, Price posted an update to TikTok and said he will get his diploma and he no longer has to speak to the board about the incident.

"I was on the phone today and the principal ( Holly Phelps ) told me it's just going to be me and her, no board," he said.

The recent graduate said the situation has gotten "out of hand" and he urged people to not call the school or attend the next board meeting. He also indicated people may have threatened school officials because of his speech.

"Anybody who's calling certain people and saying they might blow their house up or something – I don't know – But anybody who's taking a hateful route to this, I please ask that you would just take a chill pill and just timeout," he said.

According to a Facebook post by his mother, Melonie Neely Farris, Price plans to join the U.S. Air Force.

She wrote, "Micah is called to do what we are all called to do, share the love of Christ, that’s exactly what he did and by the way I heard things, the entire audience loved it!"

Neither Price nor his mom responded to online requests for comment from The Enquirer.

What is Memorial Day? The true meaning of why we celebrate the federal holiday

For many Americans, Memorial Day is more than a long weekend and an unofficial start to the summer season. The real meaning of the holiday is meant to honor all U.S. soldiers who have died serving their country.

Originally called Decoration Day, Memorial Day's history goes back to the Civil War. It was was declared a national holiday by Congress in 1971, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Although Veterans Day in November also honors military service members, Memorial Day differs by honoring all military members who have died while serving in U.S. forces in any current or previous wars.

The late-May holiday has also evolved into an opportunity for Americans to head to the beach or lake , travel to see friends and family , or even catch a Memorial Day parade .

Here's what to know about the history and the reason behind why we observe Memorial Day.

Memorial Day weather: Severe storms could hamper your travel, outdoor plans for Memorial Day weekend

When is Memorial Day?

One of 11 federal holidays recognized in the U.S., Memorial Day is always observed on the last Monday of May. This year, the holiday falls on Monday, May 27.

Why do we celebrate Memorial Day?  

The origins of the holiday can be traced back to local observances for soldiers with neglected gravesites during the Civil War.

The first observance of what would become Memorial Day, some historians think, took place in Charleston, South Carolina at the site of a horse racing track that Confederates had turned into a prison holding Union prisoners. Blacks in the city organized a burial of deceased Union prisoners and built a fence around the site, Yale historian David Blight wrote in  The New York Times  in 2011.

Then on May 1, 1865, they held an event there including a parade – Blacks who fought in the Civil War participated – spiritual readings and songs, and picnicking. A commemorative marker was erected there in 2010.

One of the first Decoration Days was held in Columbus, Mississippi, on April 25, 1866 by women who decorated graves of Confederate soldiers who perished in the battle at Shiloh with flowers. On May 5, 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, the tradition of placing flowers on veterans’ graves was continued by the establishment of Decoration Day by an organization of Union veterans, the Grand Army of the Republic. 

General Ulysses S. Grant presided over the first large observance, a crowd of about 5,000 people, at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia on May 30, 1873.

This tradition continues to thrive in cemeteries of all sizes across the country. 

Until World War I, Civil War soldiers were solely honored on this holiday. Now, all Americans who’ve served are observed. 

At least 25 places in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. Some states that claim ownership of the origins include Illinois, Georgia, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, according to Veterans Affairs.

Despite conflicting claims, the U.S. Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, New York, as the “birthplace” of Memorial Day on May 30, 1966, after Governor Nelson Rockefeller's declaration that same year. The New York community formally honored local veterans May 5, 1866 by closing businesses and lowering flags at half-staff. 

Why is Memorial Day in May? 

The day that we celebrate Memorial Day is believed to be influenced by Illinois U.S. Representative John A. Logan, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives as a Democrat in November 1858, and served as an officer during the Mexican War.

It is said that Logan, a staunch defender of the Union, believed Memorial Day should occur when flowers are in full bloom across the country, according to the  National Museum of the U.S. Army.

Congress passed an act making May 30 a holiday in the District of Columbia in 1888,  according to the U.S. Congressional Research Service.

In 2000, the National Moment of Remembrance Act – which created the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance and encourages all to pause at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence – was signed into law by Congress and the President.

What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?

Memorial Day and Veterans Day both honor the sacrifices made by U.S. veterans, but the holidays serve different purposes.

Veterans Day, originally called “Armistice Day,” is a younger holiday established in 1926 as a way to commemorate all those who had served in the U.S. armed forces during World War I.

Memorial Day honors all those who have died.

What we know about the young missionaries and religious leader killed in Haiti

A family member of a U.S. missionary couple says the couple and a Haitian man who led a religious organization have been fatally shot by criminal gang members in Haiti’s capital

The local director of a mission group in Haiti and a young missionary couple from the U.S. were attacked and fatally shot by gang members after leaving a youth group activity at a church, a family member told The Associated Press.

Thursday’s killings of Jude Montis, the local director of Missions in Haiti Inc., and Davy and Natalie Lloyd happened in the community of Lizon in northern Port-au-Prince . Natalie Lloyd is the daughter of a Republican state representative in Missouri.

Haiti’s capital has been crumbling under the relentless assault of violent gangs that control 80% of the city, while authorities await the arrival of a police force from Kenya as part of a U.N.-backed deployment aimed at quelling gang violence in the troubled Caribbean country.

Here are some things to know about the missionary work, which focused on helping the children of Haiti, and the gang attack that took three lives.

WORKING IN HAITI

Missions in Haiti’s website says its goal is “to see the Gospel of Christ make a difference in the lives of Haiti’s young people.”

Davy Lloyd’s parents, David and Alicia Lloyd, of Oklahoma, started the organization in 2000 with the aim of focusing on the children of Haiti. David and Alicia Lloyd are full-time missionaries in the country.

“Although the entire nation is steeped in poverty, the children suffer the worst,” they wrote on the website. “Thousands are malnourished, uneducated, and headed for hopeless lives apart from Christ.”

Hannah Cornett, Davy’s sister, told AP that they grew up in Haiti. Davy went to the U.S. to attend a Bible college and married Natalie in June 2022. After the wedding, the couple wasted little time moving to Haiti to do humanitarian work.

Cornett said Montis, a Haitian, worked at Missions in Haiti for 20 years.

The organization’s efforts include House of Compassion, which provides housing for 36 children — 18 boys and 18 girls, the website says. “All are destined to stay at House of Compassion until they have finished school and are ready to be on their own.”

Good Hope Boys’ Home provides a home for 22 boys, according to the website. The organization also built a church, a bakery and a school with more than 240 students.

A Facebook posting on the Missions in Haiti page stated that Davy Lloyd, 23, and Natalie Lloyd, 21, along with some children, were leaving a church when gang members in three trucks ambushed them.

Davy Lloyd later called his family to tell them that gang members hit him on the head with the barrel of a gun, forced him upstairs, stole their belongings and left him tied up, Cornett said.

As people were helping untie Davy Lloyd, another group of armed gunmen showed up, Cornett said.

“No one understood what they were doing, not sure what took place but one was shot and killed and now this gang went into full attack mode,” Missions in Haiti’s posting said.

The couple and Montis fled to a house connected to the mission.

“They tried to take cover in there, but the gang shot up the house,” Cornett said.

Ben Baker, Natalie Lloyd’s father and a state representative in Missouri, said Friday on Facebook that the couple’s bodies were safely transported to the U.S. Embassy.

Cassidy Anderson, a spokesperson for the family, said in a later Facebook post on Baker’s page that they were working to retrieve the bodies.

“We have to obtain a waiver that will allow their bodies to be transported without being fully embalmed due to the lack of facilities that provide that service in Haiti,” the post said. “After that, we have to find an airline that will be willing to do the transport. Prayers that this will all go smoothly.”

GRIEVING FAMILIES

Cornett said Montis left behind two children, ages 2 and 6.

Montis’ family could not be reached for comment Friday, and Missions in Haiti did not respond to an AP request for comment.

Missions in Haiti said in a Facebook post Saturday that they were “facing the most difficult time of our life.”

“The embassy is working on getting all the paper work done in order for them to be flown to the states and many more behind the scenes to make happen more quickly and safely,” the post said, adding that the children and staff of Missions in Haiti have been relocated to a safer location.

Baker wrote on Facebook that his heart was broken “in a thousand pieces.”

“I’ve never felt this kind of pain,” he said. “Most of you know my daughter and son-in-law Davy and Natalie Lloyd are full time missionaries in Haiti. They were attacked by gangs this evening and were both killed. They went to Heaven together. Please pray for my family we desperately need strength. And please pray for the Lloyd family as well. I have no other words for now.”

Associated Press writer Summer Ballentine in Columbia, Missouri, contributed.

Fonda Dulce Jesus Mio

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3328 S Orange Blossom Trl

Kissimmee, FL 34746

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First time getting to try this fonda that I hear all the rave about from other fellow Colombians! Came in for dinner on Sunday night. I was honestly surprised with how spacious this place is! I've heard of the original location in Medellin, but have yet had the privilege to go. I love the decor; the typical Colombian style brick roofs with balconies, the wood tables/chairs, and let's not forget the church with El Niño Jesus to top it off. I love seeing the employees in the traditional wear, which adds more of our culture to the place. Now for the food, I ordered chicaharones (fried pork belly) with an arepa for an appetizer; what looked like a small portion was actually great to share with another person. The chicharones were cut nicely, fried to a nice texture, and I enjoyed the sticks to help pick at the pieces. For my entree, I had the bistec encebollado, which was a huge plate.. I actually took half of it to go! The steak was cooked deliciously, it was freshly cooked and soft when I cut into it. The plate came with a side of rice, yuca fries, and Colombian style cole claw. I paired my lovely yuca fries with a combination of sauces they provide you; a typical Colombian spicy sauce (think of like a pico de gallo), chimichurri, salsa rosada (like mayoketchup), and a white garlic sauce (to die for). I paired everything with a Jugo de maracuya, I chose to mix it with water since I can't have milk (but always do milk if you're tolerant you won't be disappointed). Overall, our server was very kind. I would say service takes a bit, but your food comes out fresh! I love the guascas, vallenatos, and modern Latin music that they play. Also, I was so amazed at how the lights start blinking and changing when they're singing happy birthday, definitely a fun touch. Can't wait to come back, for when the place turns into a club at night, I can only imagine how fun it might be!

See all photos from Jesy T. for Fonda Dulce Jesus Mio

Service provides without knowledge, requests a glass of tap water not allowed to have, mentioned you may acquire poisoning from water and confused with food, wonder what kind of water they used to prepare food , drinks ice machine source of water?ask for lemonade drink they prepare with wich water, Food bandeja paisa was cold missing chorizo, avocado, beans was cold too. and sancocho meat outside the plate, Rice cold missing flavor taste weak and they charge service charge for 2 people without telling you," Trick." If you dont check your bill, be adding a gratuity paying double tip. The tables are too crowded.

As a Colombian any time a new restaurant opens we have to go and support! We were not disappointed at all with any part of our experience! First the atmosphere is your traditional Colombian village! Perfectly decorated to the smallest detail and the servers were dressed in our traditional dresses. Always smiling and with recommendations. The food was definitely just like at home, we had to try the traditional Maracuya margarita which were delicious. For food we got morcilla which is a blood sausage very common. And of course the must have bandeja paisa. They say they turn the place into a dancing club Friday and Saturday nights so I can't wait To try it out! 10/10

Maracuya margarita

Are you ready to get transported to Medellin? This is what this place feels like. Side note: I went on a Saturday afternoon, not for the night ambiance or show experience. The hostess and waitress were attentive and friendly. I was seated immediately. The place is huge and can accommodate a lot of people. The food was delicious and fresh. The food had cutest presentation and restaurant decor was authentic to its culture. I will definitely go back.

See all photos from Nathalia N. for Fonda Dulce Jesus Mio

Sitio fue excellente con excellente servicio me atendio una mesera que se llama Karen era muy amable y bella. El restaurante como tal tiene muchas decoraciones parece que estas en colombia muy bueno el ambiente.

My steak was tender. Well done the service was good enjoyed the music baked potato and beans were delicious

This restaurant just opened in Orlando. This place is a restaurante by day and a club at night. It was my cousins birthday and she wanted to go there for her. We had called a couple of days before days before you reserve since we were going to be around 15 people. I was the first one to get there from our party. When I walked in my first impression was that I love the decore!!!! There are other Dulce Jesus Mío's I have been to the original one in Medellin and loved it, but that one is only a club. What came next was very disappointing. I waited at the door for about 5 mins. There was no one at the door to great you and servers walked by us and didn't even acknowledged us. I had to go and walk up to the bar before someone even spoke to me. Second they said they couldn't find the reservation, but if we could wait a minute they would accommodate us. We sat in the waiting area. Then 2 other large parties came in and same thing. It was a couple of minutes before they acknowledged them as well and couldn't find their reservation. After about 10 mins they finally sat us down. It took another 15 mins before someone came with menus and then another 20 mins before they took our drink order. By that time we knew what we wanted. Our server was great she had no help dealing with a couple of big parties. Some of our orders were messed up and some of the food came out before others. I had already finished my food before my sons food came out. The food was good and drinks were great. At about 7pm they closed the doors and started setting up for the club. When we walked outside there was already a line ready to get in, maybe I will try going there one night and see how it goes.

Nunca he visitado un lugar tan disagradable como este. 1. El bartender no tiene ni idea de como preparar las margaritas. Y aparte no tienen mezcal. 2. Ni te sientes en la barra cerca del bano porque el olor es lo mas desagradable. 3. El peor customer services y decoration. Tremendo cuchitil. No entiendo como quieren ganarse una propina. 4. Y ni hablar del DJ de los sabados. Conosco todas las fondas Colombianas de Miami y esta es la peor. Les recomiendo Sanponcho.​​

Food was alright Service was TERRIBLE Very cool looking place with a lot of potential but the service was just HORRIBLE. I don't know a place that charges you for water bottles rather than just giving you a glass of tap water. I also don't know any place that limits you to two refills for fountain drinks. There are a lot of lies within their happy hour menu as well.

I was really excited to go to this restaurant as I have been to the nightclub in Medellin. When I walked in, I was super excited. The service was very slow and when we got our food, it wasn't hot, it was slightly warm. The bandeja looked amazing but looks can be deceiving. The steak was hard, the food was flavorless. I was disappointed. It wasn't a great experience.

4 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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POPE FRANCIS

GENERAL AUDIENCE

Saint Peter's Square Wednesday, 29 May 2024

[ Multimedia ]

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The following text includes parts that were not read out loud, but should be considered as such.

Cycle of Catechesis. The Spirit and the Bride. The Holy Spirit guides. the people of God towards Jesus our hope. 1. The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters

Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!

Today, with this catechesis we begin a cycle of reflections with the theme ‘The Holy Spirit and the Bride” – the bride is the Church – “The Holy Spirit guides God's people towards Jesus our hope’. We will make this journey through the three great stages of salvation history: the Old Testament, the New Testament, and the time of the Church. Always keeping our gaze fixed on Jesus, Who is our hope.

In these first catecheses on the Spirit in the Old Testament, we will not do ‘biblical archaeology’. Instead, we will discover that what is given as a promise in the Old Testament has been fully realised in Christ. It will be like following the path of the sun from dawn to noon.

Let us begin with the first two verses of the entire Bible. The first two verses of the Bible read: ‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters ’ ( Gen 1:1-2). The Spirit of God appears to us here as the mysterious power that moves the world from its initial formless, deserted, and gloomy state to its ordered and harmonious state. Because the Spirit makes harmony, harmony in life, harmony in the world. In other words, it is He who makes the world pass from chaos to the cosmos, that is, from confusion to something beautiful and ordered. This, in fact, is the meaning of the Greek word kosmos , as well as the Latin word mundus , that is, something beautiful, something ordered, clean, harmonious, because the Spirit is harmony.

This still vague hint of the Holy Spirit’s action in creation becomes more precise in the following revelation. In a psalm we read: ‘By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host’ ( Ps  33:6); and again: ‘You send forth Your spirit, they are created, and You renew the face of the earth’ ( Ps  104:30).

This line of development becomes very clear in the New Testament, which describes the intervention of the Holy Spirit in the new creation, using precisely the images that one reads about in connection with the origin of the world: the dove that hovers over the waters of the Jordan at Jesus’ baptism (cf. Mt  3:16); Jesus who, in the Upper Room, breathes on the disciples and says: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’ (Jn 20:22), just as in the beginning God breathed His breath on Adam (cf. Gen  2:7).

The Apostle Paul introduces a new element into this relationship between the Holy Spirit and creation . He speaks of a universe that ‘groans and suffers as in labour pains’ (cf. Rom  8:22). It suffers because of man who has subjected it to the ‘bondage of corruption’ (cf. vv. 20-21). It is a reality that concerns us closely and concerns us dramatically. The Apostle sees the cause of the suffering of creation in the corruption and sin of humanity that has dragged it into its alienation from God. This remains as true today as it was then. We see the havoc that has been done, and that continues to be wrought upon creation by humanity, especially that part of it that has greater capacity to exploit its resources.

St Francis of Assisi shows us a way out, a beautiful way, a way out to return to the harmony of the Spirit: the way of contemplation and praise. He wanted a canticle of praise to the Creator to be raised from the creatures. We recall, ‘Laudato sí, mi Signore...’ the canticle of Francis of Assisi.

One of the psalms (18:2 [19:1]) says, ‘ The heavens declare the glory of God ’, but men and women are needed to give voice to this mute cry of theirs. And in the ‘ Sanctus ’ of the Mass we repeat each time: ‘Heaven and earth are full of your glory’. They are, so to speak, ‘pregnant’ with it, but they need the hands of a good midwife to give birth to this praise of theirs. Our vocation in the world, Paul again reminds us, is to be ‘ praise of His glory ’ ( Eph  1:12). It is to put the joy of contemplating ahead of the joy of possessing. And no one has rejoiced in creatures more than Francis of Assisi, who did not want to possess any of them.

Brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit, Who in the beginning transformed chaos into cosmos, is at work to bring about this transformation in every person. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promises: ‘I will give you a new heart, and a new Spirit I will put within you… I will put my Spirit within you’ ( Ez  36:26-27). For our heart resembles that deserted, dark abyss of the first verses of Genesis. Opposed feelings and desires stir within it: those of the flesh and those of the spirit. We are all, in a sense, that ‘kingdom divided against itself’ that Jesus talks about in the Gospel (cf. Mk  3:24). Within ourselves we can say that there is an external chaos – social choas, political chaos. We think about wars, we think about so many boys and girls who don’t have enough to heat, about so many social injustices. This is the external chaos. But there is also an internal chaos: internal to each of us. The former cannot be healed unless we begin to heal the latter! Brothers and sisters, let us do a good job of making our internal confusion a clarity of the Holy Spirit. It is the power of God that does this, and we open our hearts so that He can do it.

May this reflection arouse in us the desire to experience the Creator Spirit. For more than a millennium, the Church has put on our lips the cry to ask: ‘ Veni creator Spiritus ! ‘Come, O Creator Spirit! Visit our minds. Fill with heavenly grace the hearts you have created.’ Let us ask the Holy Spirit to come to us and make us new persons, with the newness of the Spirit. Thank you.

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Special Greetings

I want to offer assurance of my prayers for the victims of the great landslide that swept through some villages in Papua New Guinea. May the Lord comfort the family members, those who have lost their homes, and the Papuan people, whom God willing I will meet next September.

Last Sunday in Novara, Father Joseph Rossi, priest and martyr, zealous parish priest of charity, was beatified. He did not abandon the flock during the tragic period of World War II but defended it even to the shedding of his blood. May his heroic witness help us to face the trials of life with fortitude. Let us applaud the new blessed.

I extend a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims. In particular, I greet the priests of Bergamo who are commemorating the 25th anniversary of their ordination, and I encourage them to persevere in fidelity to the Lord's call and joyful service of the Gospel. These “Bergamaschi” [people from Bergamo] have a reputation as good priests, eh? Onward, with courage! I also greet the Daughters of the Cross, from Liege, who are celebrating their General Chapter, and I urge them to strengthen their religious ideals in order to express their dedication to God and their brothers and sisters ever more generously.

I warmly welcome the faithful of Solopaca, the “Grosseto 1912” Sports Union, the soldiers of the Army Signal Command of Cecchignola and those of Nettuno.

Finally, my thoughts go to the young, the sick, the elderly and the newlyweds. Today we celebrate the liturgical memorial of St Paul VI , a pastor burning with love for Christ, for the Church and for humanity. May this anniversary help everyone to rediscover the joy of being Christian, inspiring a renewed commitment to building the civilisation of love. And please, if you have some time, read Paul VI's letter ‘ Evangelii nuntiandi ,’ which is still relevant today.

My thoughts go to tormented Ukraine. The other day I received little boys and girls who suffered burns, they lost their legs in the war: war is always cruel. These little boys and girls have to start walking, to move with artificial arms ... they have lost their smiles. It is very bad, very sad when a child loses their smile. Let us pray for the Ukrainian children.

And let us not forget Palestine and Israel who suffer so much: let the war end.

And let us not forget Myanmar, and so many countries that are at war.

Children suffer, children in war suffer. Let us pray to the Lord to be close to all and give us the grace of peace. Amen.

My blessing to all!

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Summary of the Holy Father's words

Dear brothers and sisters: Today we begin a new series of catecheses on “The Spirit and the Bride,” focusing on how the Holy Spirit guides God’s people throughout salvation history. From the very beginning, the Spirit of God is at work, bringing order and beauty out of chaos. This ongoing transformation is fully realized in Jesus Christ. Saint Paul tells us that “creation has been groaning in travail,” ( Rom  8:22) a reality that remains true, and emphasizes our need to address both our internal and external chaos. In light of this, Saint Francis of Assisi offers contemplation and praise as a remedy and demonstrates how to embrace creation freely. Let us then invite the Spirit of God into our lives, to transform our hearts and heal our world: “Come Holy Spirit, Creator come, enlighten our minds and fill with heavenly grace the hearts you have created.”

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