We contemplate today’s feast – the Presentation of the Lord – and the gospel story of Mary and Joseph taking their infant child Jesus to the Temple for the first time. The firstborn son belonged to God and had to be bought back with a sacrifice. In the image of Joseph and Mary presenting Jesus in the Temple, we have a wonderful model of husband and wife united in practicing the faith and continuing in raising their child in the faith.
Some people have a problem with infant initiation into religion: why would the baby Jesus, who is not in a position to say yes or no, be initiated into the Jewish religion without his consent?
In traditional societies like the Jewish culture of Joseph and Mary, people see the family as one entity. The question of husband, wife and child belonging to different religions was unthinkable because religion was supposed to play a role in cementing the family unity.
Parents are supposed to provide their children with the basic necessities of life: what is more basic than one’s faith in God? No parents would think of allowing their children to decide whether they want to go to school or not, whether they want to be a citizen of their country or not. Parents make these decisions for their children, knowing full well that when they grow up, they may decide to continue with the values they gave them or abandon them. But only a foolish parent would refuse to send a child to school or teach a child their language and tradition in the name of respecting the child’s freedom to choose. Similarly, it is foolish for parents not to initiate their children into their faith traditions.
Can you imagine Mary and Joseph saying, “Let’s let Jesus decide whether he wants to believe in God when he grows up?” Dear Parents you are the first teachers of faith.