Homily by Fr. Zenon Racki on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
February 1, 2025
On this great feast of the Presentation, we recall the meeting of Jesus Christ with the righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna. This moment tells us that during our lives we have many opportunities to meet our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Glory to Jesus Christ!
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
On the day of the great feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ, let us reflect on those moments in our lives when the Lord God, Jesus Christ, is truly present in our lives. On this great feast, the baby Jesus Christ, their and our Saviour, was in the arms of the righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna. They embraced him, they rejoiced, and they were glad to see him.
Reflecting on God’s presence here on earth, in our lives, let us first of all remember that the Lord God Jesus Christ is present, especially during the Divine Liturgy, in the Holy Eucharist under the form of bread and wine. We receive him; he comes into our souls, into our hearts; he embraces us with his presence.
The second moment of the presence of the Lord God on this earth is in the Holy Scriptures. In the Old Testament, God is present, preparing us for the coming of God’s Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. And in the New Testament, the Lord God is present, speaking to us through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ Himself speaks to us.
The third aspect of God’s presence is his presence in our neighbours, especially the poor. We have them among us. In the Gospel of Matthew we read, “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” (Matthew 25:35–36). Indeed, the Lord God is present in poor, suffering people in a special way.
In the fourth dimension of the presence of the Lord God on earth, we find him in the time of our common prayer. In the Gospel of Matthew we read, “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:18–20). Our common prayer—family, church, and parish prayer—tells us that we are not alone, but that the Saviour Jesus Christ Himself is with us and among us.
Therefore, on this great feast of the Presentation, we recall the meeting of Jesus Christ with the righteous Simeon and the prophetess Anna. This moment tells us that during our lives we have many opportunities to meet our Saviour Jesus Christ and to embrace him. And so does he. He comes to our souls, to us, embraces us, supports us, and loves us. This is our Saviour, our Jesus Christ.
Glory to Jesus Christ!