The first reading contains Malachi's oracle, which provides insights into the Jewish community in Jerusalem five centuries before Christ.

At this time, civil authority in the city had declined, and the Levitical priests had assumed both civil and religious control. However, the priests had proved themselves irresponsible leaders by not correcting the abuses.

Malachi prophesies the coming of a "messenger" who will prepare the way of the Lord. The Lord himself is described as coming as a "judge" who would be like a refiner's fire or the fuller's lye (soap)", images to show that the Lord will remove all impurities and cleanse the sons of Levi.

The episode of Jesus' presentation at the temple, emphasises not so much on the rituals taking place, but on the key idea of the coming of Jesus to the temple for the first time. There, he will be received with official recognition as the promised Saviour of humanity. He will be acknowledged as the "Anointed of the Lord" and a light of revelation to the Gentiles.

Through his life and death, Jesus shows fully to all humankind his own humanity, so that his death might be for all a liberation from slavery to freedom. He has to share fully in society because he is to take on the role of the high priest offering himself as a pure sacrifice, cleansed of all impurities, for the sins of his fellow human beings. Unlike the Levitical priests, he is a merciful and faithful high priest.