Image-i-nations

GOD – we try to know him, of course.
We read, and study, and try to understand…
Understand who he is, how he looks upon us, how we can relate to him.

At times, what we are told about him goes way beyond what we could have imagine.
This is to case with the text of the 2nd reading of today’s celebration.
In the Letter to the Hebrews, we are told (Hebrews 2:14-18):

“Since all children share in the same blood and flesh,
he (Jesus) shared equally in it…
It was essential that he should become completely like his brothers”.

And only 3 verses before today’s reading, the text says:
“The one who sanctifies, and the ones who are sanctified, are of the same stock”.

God, one of us, God who has made himself like us – except sin, of course (Hebrews 4:15).
He comes to us as a new-born, learns how to walk and talk, and he grows up like all children.
He will be hungry and thirsty, afraid and anxious before suffering, as we are.

Today’s gospel of the Feast of the Purification is an image of this  as Jesus’ parents do for him what the Jewish Law requires (Luke 2:22-40).

The man Simeon, who welcomes Mary and Joseph with the child Jesus, recognizes this child as God’s “salvation and a light for revelation to the Gentiles”.
At the scene, “there was a prophetess also, Anna the daughter of Phanuel. She spoke of the child to all who looked forward to the deliverance of Jerusalem”.

Do we recognize him as salvation and liberation?
So much like us… so much for us…

Note: Another reflection is available on a different theme in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/4e-dimanche-purification-du-seigneur-annee-c-2025/

Source: Images: https://www.scripture-images.com/bible-verse/kjv/hebrews-2-17-kjv.php#verse_picture The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints