The Presentation of the Lord is one of the rare holy days that takes precedence over the regular Sunday feast day. Most feasts and memorials are out ranked by Sunday. So, even though it is not a day of obligation, this should tell us something about its significance. It marks the end of the traditional Christmas season. To help us realize its significance, it will be helpful to look at the beginning and the Nativity of the Lord.
Throughout these weeks of Christmas, we have recalled the numerous types and people who came to see and pay homage to the Son of God. It began with shepherds and culminated on Epiphany and the arrival of the Magi. In this way we have seen God not being satisfied with His son merely being born into the world, but His desire to begin with the humblest and bring all nations and peoples to Him. As He promises of Israel, they are to be a light to the nations and the Glory of His people Israel.
This brings us to the words of Simeon, and the prophetess Anna, who had long awaited the arrival of the Messiah. There is the big turning point: they had awaited.
I think that when we hear of the Presentation of the Lord, we think of the Jewish tradition of bringing a child to the temple to be presented to the Lord, and that this is exactly what Mary and Joseph, as righteous Jews and in fulfillment of the law are doing. On the surface, this is true, but is it what was really happening?
In the East, this same day is celebrated and known as Encounter Sunday. Where we focus on Jesus being presented, they focus on the encounter that Simeon and Anna are experiencing. In these two ways, we see what is happening and why this day is such a fitting match with the Nativity of the Lord and end to the Christmas Season.
This day is more about Jesus being presented to us (us encountering the Son of God) than Mary and Joseph presenting him to his own Father. While throughout Christmas there was a focus on God fulfilling the promise that He would bring His people to Him (as He did when we brought the Israelites out of Egypt to bring them to His Holy Mountain), today He shows Himself being presented to us; He is coming to where we are.
He begins by coming into the world and calling people to come to Him, to bear witness to His presence, and the truth and depth of His love for us. But He does not simply stay and wait for everyone to come to Him. Rather, in the movement from Christmas, He is presented to us. Mary and Joseph are presenting Jesus to the world as the most generous gift of God so that all may see salvation brought into the world, and His reason for coming is fulfilled.