This Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Presentation of the Lord, as Mary and Joseph take Jesus to Jerusalem to make a sacrifice of redemption to consecrate the first born. We see that they are too poor to sacrifice a lamb, and sacrifice two turtledoves instead. And we encounter Simeon who gives us his song, which we know as Nunc dimittis, and who, along with the prophetess Anna, recognizes the long awaited Messiah in this special child, whose name means "salvation," and who will redeem his people.
We have three wonderful articles which relate the prophesy in Malachi to the gospel account, and which tell us about the custom of the times, how this special feast came about, and its significance to the mission of Christ. It is also known as "The Presentation of Christ in the Temple," "Candlemas," and "The Encounter," in different traditions. See John W. Martens "The Presentation of the Lord," Candlemas, The Presentation of Christ," and Michael Marsh's "A Sermon for the Feast of the Presentation (Candlemas)."
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