The setting of this the Virgin Mary’s first Sorrow- is probably familiar to us as the fourth Joyful mystery of the Rosary the “Presentation of Jesus in the Temple,”

In the calendar of the Church it is celebrated as part of “The Feast of Candlemas” when candles are blessed in the Church in honour of Simeon and Anna’s greeting of the light that is Christ.  It is a story of overwhelming light – undercut with the shadow of grief.

In the Chapter 2 of St Luke’s Gospel we are told that the little family of St Joseph, the Our Lady and the boy-child Jesus are obedient to the ancient ritual law of Israel.  They turn up “immediately” (Luke writes) to the Temple to consecrate the newborn baby boy to God.

Every family, rich or poor was obliged to honour the rescue of Israel out of slavery and Egypt by dedicating the “first fruits” of the marriage back to the Lord with the sacrifice of a lamb if the family was wealthy or two turtle doves if they were of humble means.

Pope Benedict XVI in one of his lovely reflections on this scene in St Luke’s “infancy narrative” – comments on the fact that the baby and his parents- were so small and unremarkable that the Temple must have been humming along with its sacred business without anyone realising that it was in-fact God the Messiah visiting his own temple!

“The Child Jesus, who is immediately presented in the Temple, is the same person who, as an adult, would purify the Temple (cf. Jn 2:13-22; Mk 11:15, 19ff). Above all he would make himself the sacrifice and the High Priest of the new Covenant”

The great English writer G.K. Chesterton called this “a paradox”– (in a poem of the same name) – “the shiny irony of Candlemas.”

Only two very old expectant and faithful people- one man and one woman – Simeon and Anna –were touched by Holy Spirit and began to make prophecies about the Messiah.

In one of the paintings by Blessed Fra Angelico- Simeon with his glorious grey ringlets, is painted as if falling forward in stylised astonishment and gratitude as the Mother holds her baby out to the old man.  He utters the beautiful lines that will become the “Nunc Dimittis” the prayer of Night Prayer or Compline – ‘at last, all powerful Master, you give leave to your servant…”

Although the joy of this greeting between the Old and the New Testament reflects the lasting victory of love over hatred, and darkness over light- Simeon realises that humanity and history will provide a mixed reception to Christ.  His initial delight is tinged by the words of foreboding to the Mother of Jesus.

The Christ-child is “a paradox” (as Chesterton never tired of saying).   In the Greek of Luke’s Gospel, an “antilegemenon” is as Pope John Paul II calls it “a sign of contradiction.” A sign to be opposed, to cause a crisis, to be spoken against.  He is the presence of God who invites conversion and “anastasin” (resurrection or rising up). We know from experience that Christ will also be the downfall. The love, truth and mercy of God that Jesus Christ himself is – will be rejected fiercely, irrationally and violently.  So too those devoted to him.

This joyful mystery also brings about the mystery of the completely innocent suffering of Jesus Christ and by her motherly relationship and her ‘fullness’ of grace, the Virgin Mary.  This also marks the solidarity of the family of Nazareth with the innocent suffering of all humanity.

Saint Edith Stein, (Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross) the great Jewish born convert, philosopher, Carmelite mystic and martyr reflects upon the ultimate sign of contradiction- the redemptive love of the Cross of Christ, and while her words related to the idealogues (the Nazis and the Communists) her words are eerily pertinent today:

 “More than ever the cross is a sign of contradiction…. (some) desecrate the images of the Cross, and they make every effort to tear the cross out of the hearts of Christians. All too often they have succeeded even with those who, like us, once vowed to bear Christ’s cross after him.

Therefore, the Saviour today looks at us, solemnly probing us, and asks each one of us: Will you remain faithful to the Crucified? Consider carefully! The world is in flames, the battle between Christ and the Antichrist has broken into the open. If you decide for Christ, it could cost you your life.”

~ Anna Krohn
Anna Krohn is a graduate in theology from the Melbourne College of Divinity.  She has worked as a researcher for the Southern Cross Bioethics Institute and for the Bioethics Centre at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne.

She is the convenor and founding member of the Anima Women’s Network which provides encouragement, formation and interaction between women of faith.  Anna has also worked with a number of other women’s organisations as a speaker and writer.

She is married to Anthony Krohn, who are both on the Managing Committee of the Caroline Chisholm Library, a cultural hub in Melbourne.