Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord, as in the days of old, as in former years. (Ml 3:4)
וְעָֽרְבָה֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה מִנְחַ֥ת יְהוּדָ֖ה וִירֽוּשָׁלִָ֑ם כִּימֵ֣י עוֹלָ֔ם וּכְשָׁנִ֖ים קַדְמֹנִיֹּֽות׃
et placebit Domino sacrificium Iuda et Hierusalem sicut dies saeculi et sicut anni antiqui.
καὶ ἀρέσει τῷ κυρίῳ θυσία Ιουδα καὶ Ιερουσαλημ καθὼς αἱ ἡμέραι τοῦ αἰῶνος καὶ καθὼς τὰ ἔτη τὰ ἔμπροσθεν.
Offering (מִנְחָה minḥâ) – This noun in Hebrew also means “gift”, “present”, or “tribute”, and it likely comes from the verb mnḥ. It has both colloquial and cultic applications. Since ancient times, it has indicated a sacrifice made to a deity as a “pleasing aroma” that soothes the soul.
In today’s First Reading (Mal 3:1-4), the prophet announces a double coming: first, the messenger, whose mission will be to prepare the way for the Lord, and then the coming of the Lord Himself to His temple. God’s presence is described as “like a refiner’s fire and like the launderer’s soap,” meaning just as fire purifies gold from what is not gold, and soap cleanses fabric from dirt, the Lord will purify the “sons of Levi”, those who served in the temple. Only then will they offer to the Lord sacrifices (מִנְחָה minḥâ) pleasing to Him.
Today’s Gospel speaks of the presentation of Jesus in the temple on the fortieth day after His birth, meaning the prophecy is fulfilled and the Lord enters His temple. We all need purification. Often we want to accomplish it ourselves, but it is a gift from God. If we desire purification, we need to receive the Lord, who is like the cleansing fire. Indeed, only those with pure, upright hearts will behold God, like Simeon and Anna.
The Hebrew word מִנְחָה [minḥâ] in the Bible means gift / offering / tribute given with reverence and respect to the Lord God. It symbolizes submission to God’s will, thanksgiving, reconciliation, or devotion to the Lord God. The word minḥâ comes from an unused root meaning to allot / to bestow. The Greek equivalent of this word is προσφορά [prosfora].