Ransom for Jesus

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petra22

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Just for fun… what did Mary and Joseph take to the Presentation at the Temple as ransom for Jesus?
 
In order to “ransom” the child and “cleanse” the mother, a visit to temple was required, which involved a sacrificial offering of a lamb and a dove. If the family had limited means, the lamb could be exchanged for a dove. Thus, two doves were sufficient to fulfill the precept.
 
I wonder if Mary and Joseph had to handle the doves themselves, or if a Temple worker did all the handling.
 
Father,
After praying the Joyful Mysteries this evening, I submit that Mary and Joseph took one unblemished lamb and two turtle doves to the Presentation. (Didn’t John the Baptist call Jesus the Lamb of God at the Baptism in the Jordan???) Praying the rosary surely does put some mysterious thoughts into people’s heads…

@Cruciferi offered a more detailed explanation. I had forgotten about the requirement of taking a lamb. I just thought it was a “cute” answer. Cruciferi showed me that I was more correct than I thought… 🙂
What a wealth of knowledge we can gather about Jesus and Mary and Joseph (and many others) just by saying our prayers!
 
The Gospel of Luke tells us what they offered in sacrifice:
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Click to expand...
But I see the connection you’re making. That’s an interesting way of putting it, especially on Epiphany. One of the gifts of the Magi was incense, to show that Christ was the one who would offer sacrifice. The sacrifice he would offer was himself, since he was the Lamb of God.
 
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edward_george1 said:
The Gospel of Luke tells us what they offered in sacrifice:
When the days were completed for their purification
according to the law of Moses,
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord,
just as it is written in the law of the Lord,
Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord,
and to offer the sacrifice of
a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons,
in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord.
Click to expand...
It doesn’t specify which they took though. Where does the tradition come from that it was the turtle doves?
Click to expand...
 
The tradition comes from the fact that Luke’s Gospel says that they took the child up to present him to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice of two turtle doves or two young pigeons. It’s pretty clear from the text.

-Fr ACEGC
 
edward_george1 said:
The tradition comes from the fact that Luke’s Gospel says that they took the child up to present him to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice of two turtle doves or two young pigeons. It’s pretty clear from the text.
Click to expand...
This is probably how I’m reading the text Father, but unless a turtle dove and a pigeon are the same bird I think they could have taken either turtle doves or pigeons.
 
Elf01 said:
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edward_george1:
The tradition comes from the fact that Luke’s Gospel says that they took the child up to present him to the Lord and to offer the sacrifice of two turtle doves or two young pigeons. It’s pretty clear from the text.
Click to expand...
This is probably how I’m reading the text Father, but unless a turtle dove and a pigeon are the same bird I think they could have taken either turtle doves or pigeons.
Click to expand...
They’re all but the same bird. Very closely related.
 
HopkinsReb said:
They’re all but the same bird. Very closely related.
Click to expand...
That is likely the explanation indeed. I didn’t know that when I asked and research showed me what you have said but I still wondered if not being exactly the same may have made a difference.
 
Remember the bible has been translated… to mean as closely as possible?
 
I remember outside my church / before the parish front yard -
we had a large Creche - Christmas time season - lights -
five foot statues of shepherds - camels - lambs - -Mary - Joseph
Well someone stole baby Jesus - from the crib !! And left a note -

whoever it was - wanted a case of beer - delivered -
somewhere - at a certain time -
or they were going to smash baby Jesus statue.
1980’s Ransom for Jesus !!

Someone found the Holy statue near the town pond a few days later -
and the town Police returned it.
 
petra22 said:
Just for fun… what did Mary and Joseph take to the Presentation at the Temple as ransom for Jesus?
Click to expand...
Obedience.

Leviticus 14
22 And two turtles or two young pigeons, of which one may be for sin, and the other for a holocaust: 23 And he shall offer them on the eighth day of his purification to the priest, at the door of the tabernacle of the testimony before the Lord.
Click to expand...
 
So, did they offer the turtle doves/pigeons as part of the “purification rite” or because He was ‘firstborn’? Was it a ransom, or does St. Luke’s text intentionally not mention any ransom of the firstborn for theological reasons?
Thanks.
 
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