Mystery of the day: Glorious
Celebration
Presentation of the Lord
The Presentation of the Lord is the fourth joyful mystery of the Rosary in the Latin Catholic Church. The presentation of the Lord is mentioned in the Gospel of Luke (2:22-40). Child Jesus was taken to the Temple to perform the redemption of the first born in the family and to complete the ritual purification of Virgin Mary after child birth as per the Law of Moses. When the Infant Jesus was brought to the Temple, Simeon and another prophetess Anna praised Jesus as the savior of the world. As per the Law of Moses every male child that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord. Therefore every Jewish boy child must be circumcised and named on the eighth day after his birth. Circumcision was so holy to Jews at that time that it must be done on the eighth day even though the day is a Sabbath day. There was also a ceremony called'Redemption of the First born (Numbers 18:16). Five shekels have to be paid to the priests by the parents of the boy to ceremoniously redeem/buy back the child from the God. Purification after child birth is necessary for the mother. She is considered as unclean for 40 days after child birth if the child is male and unclean for 80 days if the child was female. In the purification ceremony, the mother should bring a lamb for burnt offering and a young pigeon for a sin offering. If she could not afford a lamb, she can bring another pigeon. If two pigeons were brought, it was considered as the offering of the poor. Mother Mary brought the offering of the poor.
Reflection for the day
Theme:
"When David's time to die drew near, he charged Solomon his son, saying, "I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies... " (1 Kings 2:1-4)
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