Couple days after Christmas when we celebrated the birth of our Savior, when we were singing praises with the heavenly hosts to the newborn king, we’re reading about the Son of God being brought to the temple to be purified and presented to the Lord.

This is happening 40 days after Jesus’ birth. For according to the Jewish law mother and the child had to be purified after birth, for they were considered unclean. Then Mary and Joseph presented Jesus to the Lord, again according to the Jewish law and they offered offering one as a sign of gratefulness and other for the forgiveness of sins.

Now come on! We’re talking about Jesus here. There was no need to purify Jesus for he was clean, without sin. There was no need to present him to God for he was God’s only son. And yet we read that all of this happened because the law of the Lord required it.

Yes, from the beginning God didn’t make any exceptions for his son. From the beginning Christ had to go through everything we do. But why? What is the purpose of all of this? What does it mean for us, people of 21^st century? How can we find ourselves in the events we just read about?

Well the Apostle Paul gives us an explanation in today’s second reading: God send his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. And then Paul continues and says: Because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So that you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

Is it making little bit more sense now? I guess for us to better understand we need to make sure that we know what is the law. The law my friends are all the rules and commandments of God that we follow in order to be better parents, better children, better husbands and wives, better neighbors, better citizens, better Christians. Or in other words I could say the law is that thing that we break daily when we fail to be a good parent, child, husband or wife, neighbor or a Christian. The law in our lives is accusing us daily of our imperfection and sinful nature. And often times it is the law that haunts our conscience.

In the times of Jesus, people would bring offerings and sacrifices to the temple asking for forgiveness and a chance to begin fresh and clean. Jesus did the same thing, not because he needed to be forgiven, but because he knew that only were people struggle with sin he can give new hope and fresh beginning. He knew that only through identifying himself with sinners, he can save them.

In other words Christ was purified in the temple so that in him we can find purification. A sacrifice for forgiveness was brought in his name so that all of us can be forgiven through him. He became Son of God so that all of us can become children of God through him. Can you see the pattern. Christ becoming one of us, so that though him we can belong to God. Not under the law, where we want to be in control, but under the grace of God, where Christ is in control.

That’s what Simeon talks about when he says: “My eyes have seen your salvation.” And this salvation, rescue or deliverance is for all people, for to us a child is born. To you a Son of God is given. Given under the law so that he can free you from its burden.

And so dear friend the question is what are we going to do with this child? Are we going to let him in so it can finally take care of our struggles, failures and bad decisions, our pride or the lack of it. Are we going to let this child become part of our lives so it can finally make them new and fresh, filled with light, forgiveness, joy and peace? For that’s what the Christ came for. To forgive those who are failing, comfort the sad and mourning, to give company to the lonely, fill lives with love and warmth and give hope to all.

We aren’t strangers anymore, we aren’t slaves anymore, and we aren’t hopeless and defeated anymore for we’re God’s through Christ. Through the child God made us his children. Now that’s a promise we can sing and rejoice in. That’s a promise we can be confident in. And so don’t worry, do not be afraid, don’t doubt yourself or you faith, but take comfort in the child of Bethlehem.

Step up to a new future with him, as purified and forgiven child of God. How does that sound? I think it sounds pretty good. Please say is with me: “In Christ I’m purified and forgiven child of God.” That’s who you are. Isn’t that amazing? That’s my friends what the Christmas is about. God loving us so much, that he became one of us, so that we can be united with him, starting here on earth, and continuing in heaven.

May the light of Christ shine in your lives everyday of this new coming year. May you in the times of trouble remember that you are a purified and forgiven child of God. May you always take comfort in the child of Bethlehem, the one who’s there for you, always.

Amen