Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, February 2, 2026

Gospel

Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22-32

When the days were completed for their purification

according to the law of Moses,

Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem

to present him to the Lord,

just as it is written in the law of the Lord,

Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,

and to offer the sacrifice of

a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,

in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon.

This man was righteous and devout,

awaiting the consolation of Israel,

and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit

that he should not see death

before he had seen the Christ of the Lord.

He came in the Spirit into the temple;

and when the parents brought in the child Jesus

to perform the custom of the law in regard to him,

he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Now, Master, you may let your servant go

in peace, according to your word,

for my eyes have seen your salvation,

which you prepared in the sight of all the peoples:

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and glory for your people Israel.”

The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him;

and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is destined

for the fall and rise of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be contradicted

-and you yourself a sword will pierce-

so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

There was also a prophetess, Anna,

the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher.

She was advanced in years,

having lived seven years with her husband after her marriage,

and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.

She never left the temple,

but worshiped night and day with fasting and prayer.

And coming forward at that very time,

she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child

to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

When they had fulfilled all the prescriptions

of the law of the Lord,

they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom;

and the favor of God was upon him.

Reflection

This Gospel depicts Mary and Joseph going to the temple to fulfill the Law, offering the sacrifice of the poor, humbly carrying Jesus to present Him to the Lord. Though they had no need to be purified, they faithfully followed the Law, modeling perfect humility and obedience to God’s will. Their quiet faithfulness, is a reminder to us that holiness is often lived out not in extraordinary displays, but in simple acts of trust and submission to God, even when we do not fully understand His plan.

Simeon stood out to me because in a similar way he teaches us what faithful waiting looks like. He is righteous and devout, but more than that, he is attentive to the Holy Spirit. He had been made aware by the Holy Spirit that he would not pass until he had seen the Messiah, and after a lifetime of waiting he is able to recognize Jesus as just a child. It raises the question, would we recognize Jesus if He came to us in such an unassuming way? While He might not come to us as an infant in a temple, He often comes quietly...through other people, moments of suffering, or gentle invitations of grace. The challenge is whether our hearts are attentive enough, like Simeon’s, to recognize Him when He appears.