I wonder what the Jesus story of Presentation we love to tell was like in real life?
We ought not allow him his divinity unless we also allow him his humanity.
Can you imagine Jesus as an infant going to temple for the first time and not squawking and howling in protest? There were no pacifiers in those days. His poor parents were just trying to obey the laws of the Temple and hush their baby at once.
My mother always told me that when I was baptized I was “a little lamb” never bleating or peeping. I did not believe her. Later she told me she always kept her pinkie finger/pacifier handy to put into my mouth when I got restless.
By the time I really could squawk or bleat was when she insisted I “come out”, that is, be a debutante. I clutched my father’s arm as tightly as I could and we paraded forth. “Coming out” they called it. Out of what ? Out of my mind, I thought.
Traditions are worthy and often lovely, yet sometimes we simply need to honor Divinity alongside Humanity in equal portions.
