An Offering of Pigeons

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, December 31st, 2023:
The Feast of the Holy Family

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Luke
2.22, 25-27, 34-35, 39-40

When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, Mary and Joseph brought the child Jesus up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord.

Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law,

Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed — and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”

When Mary and Joseph had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favour of God was upon him.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

The book of Leviticus outlines rules for temple sacrifices that were followed by devout Israelites for centuries. Traditionally, a firstborn son was dedicated to God with the sacrifice of a lamb: one year old, snow white, without any blemish or defect. But the scriptures also indicated that a family who could not afford such an expense could instead offer two small birds. This is the offering Mary and Joseph bring for Jesus. There’s something astounding about all this when we look at it through the lens of the Holy Trinity: the God of the Universe is born as a human baby. His parents take Him to the temple on the eighth day after his birth to offer the Son of God to the Father. And they do so with the poorest option. 

One of my biggest struggles in my faith life is feeling like I’m not good enough. I want to carry myself under my own strength, achieve success and holiness all by myself, and then bring that perfected person to God. I struggle with feelings of shame when I come to prayer after having not prayed the day before or knowing I’m way overdue for the sacrament of Reconciliation. I feel like I’m giving God a half-hearted offering. Why bother if I can’t give Him what He deserves? 

The Gospel for the Feast of the Holy Family is a reminder that God does not want only our perfect offerings. Jesus is offered to God the Father with two little birds, not an unblemished lamb, even though He is the Lamb. If God is pleased with pigeons, then there’s hope for me, too. I can bring Him my forgetfulness, my failures, my flaws. God asks me for an offering, now and every day, of what I have to give. 

Sometimes my faith is strong and my trust in Him is great, and I feel proud of my offering. But I can imagine Mary and Joseph feeling embarrassed, standing next to other families with beautiful lambs to offer, trying to juggle a newborn and two small birds in their hands. But this little offering, this barely-good-enough second-best option, is a great gift when offered to God. God’s favourite gift is our love, even when it’s still half-hearted. God’s favourite offering is ourselves, even when we’re not sure we’re ready to give Him our all. He wants our pigeons; whatever it is we can scrape together to give Him is beautiful in His eyes. With His grace, we’ll have more to give the following day, and the day after that. But in the driest seasons, where our faith grows faint and prayer is a struggle, even our poorest offerings are always acceptable to Him.




Jenna Young

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