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Archbishop’s Teaching

Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Luke 2: 22-35) February 2, 2025

Homily of His Excellency, Selim Sfeir Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“Now, O Christ our God, we implore you, with the fragrance of this incense, to grant us, on this holy feast, a profound understanding of your plan of salvation.” - SEDRO

Today’s feast is a feast both of Jesus and Mary: of Jesus, who is presented by His Mother in the temple, forty days after His birth according to the Law of Moses; and of Mary, because she submits herself to a rite of purification prescribed by the Law of Moses.

In order to celebrate this Feast more fittingly, the Maronite liturgy blesses candles and gives them to us. The lighted candle is a symbol of the Christian life, of faith and grace which should shine in our soul. Just as a sudden breeze can extinguish a candle, so too we can lose the grace of God by our own selfishness and weakness.

How beautiful is the Mother of God on this feast day! Although she knew she was a virgin, she put herself on the level of all the other mothers and stands with them, humbly awaiting her turn, carrying “a pair of turtledoves,” the offering of the poor. We see Jesus and Mary submitting themselves to laws by which they are not bound; Jesus does not need to be redeemed, nor Mary to be purified. On this great feast, let us learn again the lesson of humility and respect for the law of God.

It may happen that in the course of the coming week, month or year in which we may encounter some law demanding of us a humble submission, and we, with our pride, may create a false pretext which would seek to exempt us. Could it be that we demand a dispensation, a special exemption because we believe we have special rights? If we should enter into this ‘abuse in the name of rights’, let us humble ourselves and acknowledge our extreme need of interior purification.

“Brothers and sisters, humility is everything. It is what saves us from the Evil One, and from the danger of becoming his accomplices. And humility is the source of peace in the world and in the Church.

Where there is no humility, there is war, there is discord, there is division. God has given us and example of humility in Jesus and Mary, so that it may be our salvation and happiness. And humility is precisely the way, the path to salvation.” – Pope Francis General Audience May 22, 2024

† Selim Sfeir
Maronite Archbishop of Cyprus

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