Scriptural Rosary
Presentation of Jesus
Perfect Lesson In Obedience

"...they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord"
-Luke 2:22

In this Joyful Scriptural mystery, the Presentation of Jesus in the temple, Simeon is filled with joy as he holds the baby Jesus.

The Joyful Mysteries are called such because they are filled with joyous events.

And yet this Joyful mystery of the rosary is also interlaced with a bit of sorrow as Simeon reveals to Mary a prophecy concerning her and the Child.

• "And after the days of her purification, according to the law of Moses, were accomplished, they carried him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord: And to offer a sacrifice, according as it is written in the law of the Lord, a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons: And behold there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Ghost was in him.
• And he had received an answer from the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. And he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when his parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, He also took him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; Because my eyes have seen thy salvation,
• Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: A light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel. And his father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning him. And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted; And thy own soul a sword shall pierce, that, out of many hearts, thoughts may be revealed.
• And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser; she was far advanced in years, and had lived with her husband seven years from her virginity. And she was a widow until fourscore and four years; who departed not from the temple, by fastings and prayers serving night and day. Now she, at the same hour, coming in, confessed to the Lord; and spoke of him to all that looked for the redemption of Israel. And after they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their city Nazareth. And the child grew, and waxed strong, full of wisdom; and the grace of God was in him." -Luke 2:22-40

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Presentation of Jesus
Perfect Example Of
Mary's Obedience To God

"The sons of wisdom are the church of the just:
and their generation, obedience and love"
-Eccl 3:1

Up to this point in the Gospel accounts that are commemorated in the first three Joyful mysteries, the Annunciation, the Visitation, the Birth of Jesus, and now in the fourth, the Presentation, you can see that Mary is not only humble, she is profoundly obedient.

Mary's love of obedience is first demonstrated when she answers the angel by calling herself the handmaid of the Lord.

Handmaid here means servant, and Mary being a good servant always promptly obeys.

Again she promptly obeyed when she traveled to Bethlehem at the time of Jesus birth.

This was a long, uncomfortable journey that she undertook while she was pregnant and didn't even have the means to rent a room.

Again in the same mystery, The Birth of Jesus, Mary is given another opportunity to obey.

Joseph tells her that they must take the baby Jesus and flee to Egypt to escape Herod's wrath.

This was an even more burdensome journey than the one to Bethlehem. But she went without complaint or question.

At the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, Mary obeyed two precepts of the Jewish law.

• First being that she was to remain unclean for forty days after the birth of a child then go to the Temple to be purified.
• And secondly, that the first born son must be taken to the Temple to be presented and offered to God.

When obeying first the words of the angel, then the decree of the Roman emperor, then her husband and finally the law, the Person Mary is truly obeying is God.

You can see in the Magnificat when Mary proclaims, "He hath regarded the humility of his handmaid," that God is pleased with Mary's obedience and sets her up as an example for all to follow.

If you would like to explore areas in your own life where you can practice the virtue of obedience, you will find excellent books on the subject in our Catholic Rosary shop.

These Bible passages of the Presentation of Jesus were taken from the timeless Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible.

If you are looking for a more modern language version of the Presentation of Jesus, our recommendation would be the St. Ignatius Press Bible.

Visit our fifth Scriptural Joyful Mystery page - Finding Jesus

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