At the temple Jesus' parents purchase an offering to make at the ceremony. It is usually a lamb and yet there is an exception in Leviticus 12 that two doves may be brought for the offering if the yearling lamb is unaffordable. Mary and Joseph give the dove offering, one dove representing a sin offering and the other dove as a whole offering. Mary and Joseph do not have the money for the yearling lamb and yet is not it so right that doves like Holy Spirit alighting are offered?
Their offering also shows us one other thing. Mary and Joseph are completely on their own. Neither Mary's mother nor her mother-in-law quietly slip her the offering to make at purification, knowing that the couple will not have the money to purchase the yearling lamb. This couple will make it together or they will not make it at all. And this causes them to count more on God than themselves. God will provide as it is recorded throughout the Old Testament.
New Testament history has begun in Jesus, with John the Baptizer's conception a few months before the Holy Spirit overshadows Mary to create Jesus! And they find a welcoming committee of two when they come to the temple! Simeon has been told by Holy Spirit that he will not die until he sees the Lord's Christ, Jesus. Simeon is told by Holy Spirit which Baby to hold and bless, Spirit gives Simeon a litany of praise and thanks. And through the Holy Spirit he gives these young parents insight into His ministry to us-- see verse 34-35 below. Anna the Prophetess welcomes Him there too.
Luke 2:22-35
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as Holy to the Lord”), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”
25 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. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 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, 28 Simeon took Him in his arms and praised God, saying,
29 “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in Peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a Light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And the Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about Him. 34 Then 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 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
Leviticus 12 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 Speak to the people of Israel, saying:
If a woman conceives and bears a male child, she shall be ceremonially unclean seven days; as at the time of her menstruation, she shall be unclean. 3 On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. 4 Her time of blood purification shall be thirty-three days; she shall not touch any holy thing, or come into the sanctuary, until the days of her purification are completed. 5 If she bears a female child, she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her menstruation; her time of blood purification shall be sixty-six days.
6 When the days of her purification are completed, whether for a son or for a daughter, she shall bring to the priest at the entrance of the tent of meeting a lamb in its first year for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or a turtledove for a sin offering. 7 He shall offer it before the Lord, and make atonement on her behalf; then she shall be clean from her flow of blood. This is the law for her who bears a child, male or female. 8 If she cannot afford a sheep, she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a sin offering; and the priest shall make atonement on her behalf, and she shall be clean.