Editing Presentation of Jesus (section)

==Scripture==
[[File:Sretenie.jpg|thumb|''Meeting of the Lord'', [[Russian Orthodox]] [[icon]], 15th century]]

The event is described in the [[Gospel of Luke]] ({{bibleref|Luke|2:22–40}}). According to the gospel, [[Mary, the mother of Jesus|Mary]] and [[Saint Joseph|Joseph]] took the [[Infant Jesus]] to the [[Second Temple|Temple]] in [[Jerusalem]] forty days (inclusive) after his birth to complete Mary's [[ritual purification]] after childbirth, and to perform the [[Pidyon HaBen|redemption of the firstborn son]], in obedience to the [[Torah]] ({{Bibleverse||Leviticus|12|HE}}, {{Bibleverse||Exodus|13:12–15|HE}}, etc.). Luke explicitly says that Joseph and Mary take the option provided for poor people (those who could not afford a lamb; {{Bibleverse||Leviticus|12:8|HE}}), sacrificing "a pair of [[Dove|turtledoves]], or two young pigeons." {{Bibleverse||Leviticus|12:1–4|HE}} indicates that this event should take place forty days after birth for a male child, hence the Presentation is celebrated forty days after Christmas.<ref name=Basilica>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalshrine.org/blog/why-we-celebrate-the-feast-of-the-presentation-of-the-lord/|title=Why We Celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord|publisher=Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception|date=2 February 2020}}</ref>

Upon bringing Jesus into the temple, they encountered [[Simeon (Gospel of Luke)|Simeon]]. The Gospel records that Simeon had been promised that "he should not see death before he had seen the Lord's [[Messiah|Christ]]" ({{bibleref|Luke|2:26}}). Simeon then uttered the prayer that would become known as the ''[[Nunc Dimittis]]'', or Canticle of Simeon, which prophesied the [[Salvation|redemption]] of the world by Jesus:

<blockquote>"Lord, now let your servant depart in peace,
according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel". ({{bibleref|Luke|2:29–32}}).<ref name=Basilica/></blockquote>

Simeon then prophesied to Mary: "Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed. ({{bibleref|Luke|2:34–35}}).<ref name=Jarvis>{{Cite web|url=https://www.english.op.org/godzdogz/fourth-joyful-mystery-the-presentation-of-jesus-in-the-temple/|title=Fourth Joyful Mystery: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple|first=Matthew|last=Jarvis|date=4 July 2014}}</ref>

The elderly [[prophet]]ess [[Anna (Bible)|Anna]] was also in the Temple, and offered prayers and praise to God for Jesus, and spoke to everyone there of his importance to redemption in Jerusalem ({{bibleref|Luke|2:36–38}}).<ref name=Jarvis/>

[[Cornelius a Lapide]] comments on Mary and Joseph sacrificing a pair of turtledoves: "…because they were poor; for the rich were obliged to give in addition to this a lamb for a holocaust. Although the three kings had offered to Christ a great quantity of gold, still the Blessed Virgin, zealously affected towards poverty, accepted but little of it, that she might show her contempt of all earthly things….<ref>{{cite book|title=The great commentary of Cornelius à Lapide|chapter=Chapter II|url=http://www.catholicapologetics.info/scripture/newtestament/2luke.htm|author-link=Cornelius a Lapide|first=Cornelius|last=Lapide|translator=Thomas Wimberly Mossman|year=1889|via=Catholic Apologetics Information}}</ref> The couple offered two turtledoves or two pigeons (Luke 2:24) presumably because they could not afford a lamb.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dolr.org/article/presentation-jesus-temple-prepared-him-ministry|title=Presentation of Jesus in the temple prepared him for ministry &#124; DOLR.org|first=Betsy Wiederkehr|last=Huss|website=Catholic Diocese of Little Rock}}</ref>