Today we celebrate Jesus’ presentation in the temple. After forty days of purification of the mother, the first-born son was to be presented in the temple and a sacrifice was offered to God. As a poor couple, Joseph and Mary offered two doves. Considering all that had happened to them the past ten months, it would be easy to think that the “rules” didn’t apply to them.
By fulfilling the ritual prescriptions, Mary and Joseph show that they didn’t consider themselves above the Law. The next time we begin to justify not fulfilling one of our obligations to God. Hopefully we remember their example!