Reflection On Luke 2:22-35

Reflection On Luke 2:22-35

As an infant, Jesus was presented in the temple by his mother, Mary and foster-father, Joseph. After coming of age, precisely at 33 years, Jesus was definitively presented once again on the cross of Calvary. This Presentation of Jesus, perfected on the cross, is re-presented at the Mass. So, upon every Catholic altar, Jesus is re-presented every time the Mass is celebrated. Although the Mass is a festive meal— because in it we are fed with the Lord’s very Body and Blood; but the Mass is also a sacrifice. How come? It involves the offering of Jesus’ Body and Blood to the Father. Does God really need this sacrifice? Not at all! God needs nothing. We serve an all-sufficient God (El-Shaddai). God lacks nothing and needs nothing. However, our salvation is effected and made possible through this very sacrifice, through this presentation. Whenever this sacrifice is offered, whenever this re-presentation of Jesus to the Father occurs at Mass, we are brought back to the Father through the Son. This is the primary reason why the Mass is considered the great Catholic prayer. 

Some Catholics complain that the Mass is too routine, that it is not spirit-filled, meaning that it doesn’t move them emotionally; that it has no room for speaking in tongues, to clap and dance, and to be spiritually rowdy. Others complain that the homily is dry, boring, too short, too long and doesn’t address their situations or questions. As a result, their Mass attendance becomes irregular, and with the passage of time, they eventually stop altogether. When such persons meet any of their priests or church member and the priest or church members says, “Hey, it’s been a long time since I saw you in church,” some of them usually say, “Yeah, I don’t attend Mass as regular as I used to, but I still pray at home.” Now, it’s a good thing they still pray, but they are missing the great Catholic prayer. They are missing the great spiritual space where the Son, Jesus, bearing the sins of the world, is presented to the Father. Christians are urged to pray in season and out of season. We pray the rosary, Divine Mercy devotional prayer, Novenas, vocal prayers, recitation of Psalms, the Our Father, Jesus’ prayer. Some read the Bible, meditate on it and pray with it too. Each of these prayers are great and we are constantly encouraged to make prayer an important act in our lives. But one prayer that stands out, that ranks higher than all these prayers is the Mass. In the long list of prayers we say, the Mass sits far at the top of it all. Why? At Mass, Jesus is re-presented to the Father and we are brought back to the Father over and over again through the Son. At every Mass, we are, so to speak, redeemed afresh. Our Burden-Bearer, Jesus, bearing our sins, is offered and presented to the Father repeatedly. 

If you are still looking for the reason to attend Mass regularly, this is it. If you think your sins have separated you from God, attend Mass regularly. If you are weighed down by sin and guilt, attend Mass regularly. If you are seriously interested in making heaven, you should make Mass attendance a top priority. No matter what your spiritual or moral life is about, the Mass is always the place where you and all the faithful are brought back to the Father through the Son.

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

At IHM Convent, Minneapolis, USA

Friday, December 29, 2023