Presentation Of Our Lord

I know the Presentation of Our Lord was yesterday, but I didn't want to miss commenting on it.

In the Presentation, we see Christ being set apart and consecrated for the priesthood. When Christ is presented in the Temple, he isn't bought back as the law proscribed for the firstborn sons, rather, like Samuel, he was dedicated to God. The two doves mentioned in Luke (the Gospel reading for yesterday) are not for Christ's ransom (which would have been five shekels), but for the removal of uncleanness incurred by Mary in giving birth to Christ according to Jewish custom.

The reading from Hebrews that we heard yesterday about Christ being the perfect mediator and priest also emphasize this fact. Another thing I found that went with this, is in the readings for the evening Daily Office from yesterday. The first psalm was from Psalm 110, the great psalm that links Christ with the priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. Also, the Scripture reading for the Office was from Hebrews 4:15-16:

"We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet never sinned. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and to find help in time of need."

Christ is our great high priest! For more on this subject, here is a paper I wrote on the priesthood of Christ for my Biblical Foundations class last semester.