Consecration an act of Worship: “Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed” (DO)

 

Consecration an act of Worship

Job 7:1-4,6-7; 1 Cor 9:16-19,22-23; Mk 1:29-39

“Christ opened heaven for us in the manhood he assumed” (DO)

Today’s Gospel completes a picture of Jesus’ ministry: preaching, curing the sick, driving out demons, and then moving on to continue this work in another place. Jesus’ compassion and healing of the sick is a sign of the Kingdom of God. Although we have different liturgical readings today, we wish to reflect upon the presentation of Child Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem.

The feast of the Presentation of our Lord Jesus in the Temple is a major feast in our calendar but we observe it when it falls on a Sunday. The traditional liturgy for the day is called Candlemass. On this day, usually, the Church celebrates the day of consecrated life in the setting of light, faith and hope. The presentation of Jesus in the temple serves two purposes: the first is the redemption of the first-born and the second is the purification of Mary. The first-born belonged to the Lord according to the Book of Exodus 13 1-2 but the book of Numbers 18: 15-16 tells that the first-born could be redeemed or bought back by paying fife shekels. Joseph and Mary show their total submission to law.

The Gospel of Luke tells us of the silent offering of three persons of themselves to God, was a perfect offering. They lived a life of obscurity and poverty for the next thirty years. They indeed accepted God’s will and having understood partially at least the salvific plan of God. They were ready to accept the suffering and pain that came along the way. They are true example of holy family.

The duty of all parents is to present their children to God. Presenting oneself is nothing but consecrating oneself to God, “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and follow them” (Lev 20: 1, 7, 8). Once we were officially presented to God on the day of our Baptism, now we present ourselves and our own given nature on the altar. 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: I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer (consecrate) your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship (Rom 12: 1).

All those who, like Simeon and Anna, persevere in piety and in the service of God, 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. The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of the Lord to us when we are receptive and eager to receive Him.  Progressive sanctification, or being made holy, cannot begin until we have consecrated ourselves and our things to Him. Consecration first, sanctification follows. Perhaps this is why some Christians are stuck in their walk with him. What has been consecrated to God, God takes ownership of – Satan cannot have it. 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. 

“Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you” (Jos 3:5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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