Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Information about the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings for Tuesday
Reading 1 Rev 3:1-6, 14-22
Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Gospel Lk 19:1-10
Commentary:
Revelations:
St. John addresses his vision to two more of the seven churches of Asia (the Asian Province of Rome), Sardis[1] and Laodicea[2]. In the case of Sardis, he calls them for backsliding. It sounds as if the community has been reduced in numbers to a point were the community is in danger of disappearing. St. Peter tells them that the few that remain faithful will be rewarded for their steadfastness.
At Laodicea the charge is that of lack of zeal for the faith. He says; “I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot.” He bases this observation upon their works indicating that while they profess Christ Jesus, their actions are not reflecting that conviction.
Psalm:
This selection lauds the person who follows the “Law”, specifically the Hebrew laws that warn against slander or false accusations. In the second strophe it honors the person who does no violence against another. And finally, in the last strophe, we are told that the person who does not charge interest on a loan (usury) is also uplifted.
Gospel:
Today we hear the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector and Jesus. While still on his final journey to Jerusalem this encounter takes place in Jericho, on the western edge of Jordan Valley, about 6 miles north of the Dead Sea, north east of Jerusalem. Jesus chooses Zacchaeus’ home for his resting place (an unpopular choice; “…they began to grumble, saying, ‘He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.’”
Jesus uses this occasion to give us a clear idea of why he came. When Zacchaeus tells him what he as done with his material possessions, Jesus tells us; “…the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” His mission is salvation.
Reflection:
We need to say something first about our feast day. The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary has several levels of tradition and implication for the Church. First we hear from Butler’s Lives of Saints where he begins; “Religious parents never fail by devout prayer to consecrate their children to the divine service and love, both before and after their birth.” Following some scriptural examples he concludes:” … the Blessed Virgin Mary was thus solemnly offered to God in the temple in her infancy.” While the event itself is not scriptural, it is clearly a reasonable expectation that one chosen as Theotokis, the Mother of God, would have been dedicated according to law and tradition. For us and for the Church this begins the events that lead to God’s gift of His Only Son, a celebration we have observed since around the 7th century and instituted most recently by Pope Sixtus V., in 1585.
Pope John Paul the Great has given this date and feast special significance as “’Pro Orantibus’ Day, a day for cloistered women religious who are especially dedicated to prayer, in silence and recollection.” This theme has been pushing at us for the past several days of readings. Today, the Church will recognize those who pray for us.
The best link we can make between the celebration of the vocations and the scripture would focus us on what our cloistered sisters are praying for. The pray that we remain faithful to our call to discipleship as the church of Sardis mentioned by St. Peter was not. They pray that our works reflect our beliefs in the world unlike the church of Laodicea. The good sisters no doubt pray that all of us remain firm in our observance of the Ten Commandments reflected in the Psalm. And finally they pray for the salvation of all of us in the sure knowledge that “…the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
So today as our religious pray for all of us, let us pray for them, that the Lord will give them strength and the reward that comes to all the faithful at the end of all things.
Pax
Information about the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Readings for Tuesday
Reading 1 Rev 3:1-6, 14-22
Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3a, 3bc-4ab, 5
R. I will seat the victor beside me on my throne.
Gospel Lk 19:1-10
Commentary:
Revelations:
St. John addresses his vision to two more of the seven churches of Asia (the Asian Province of Rome), Sardis[1] and Laodicea[2]. In the case of Sardis, he calls them for backsliding. It sounds as if the community has been reduced in numbers to a point were the community is in danger of disappearing. St. Peter tells them that the few that remain faithful will be rewarded for their steadfastness.
At Laodicea the charge is that of lack of zeal for the faith. He says; “I know that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot.” He bases this observation upon their works indicating that while they profess Christ Jesus, their actions are not reflecting that conviction.
Psalm:
This selection lauds the person who follows the “Law”, specifically the Hebrew laws that warn against slander or false accusations. In the second strophe it honors the person who does no violence against another. And finally, in the last strophe, we are told that the person who does not charge interest on a loan (usury) is also uplifted.
Gospel:
Today we hear the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector and Jesus. While still on his final journey to Jerusalem this encounter takes place in Jericho, on the western edge of Jordan Valley, about 6 miles north of the Dead Sea, north east of Jerusalem. Jesus chooses Zacchaeus’ home for his resting place (an unpopular choice; “…they began to grumble, saying, ‘He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.’”
Jesus uses this occasion to give us a clear idea of why he came. When Zacchaeus tells him what he as done with his material possessions, Jesus tells us; “…the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” His mission is salvation.
Reflection:
We need to say something first about our feast day. The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary has several levels of tradition and implication for the Church. First we hear from Butler’s Lives of Saints where he begins; “Religious parents never fail by devout prayer to consecrate their children to the divine service and love, both before and after their birth.” Following some scriptural examples he concludes:” … the Blessed Virgin Mary was thus solemnly offered to God in the temple in her infancy.” While the event itself is not scriptural, it is clearly a reasonable expectation that one chosen as Theotokis, the Mother of God, would have been dedicated according to law and tradition. For us and for the Church this begins the events that lead to God’s gift of His Only Son, a celebration we have observed since around the 7th century and instituted most recently by Pope Sixtus V., in 1585.
Pope John Paul the Great has given this date and feast special significance as “’Pro Orantibus’ Day, a day for cloistered women religious who are especially dedicated to prayer, in silence and recollection.” This theme has been pushing at us for the past several days of readings. Today, the Church will recognize those who pray for us.
The best link we can make between the celebration of the vocations and the scripture would focus us on what our cloistered sisters are praying for. The pray that we remain faithful to our call to discipleship as the church of Sardis mentioned by St. Peter was not. They pray that our works reflect our beliefs in the world unlike the church of Laodicea. The good sisters no doubt pray that all of us remain firm in our observance of the Ten Commandments reflected in the Psalm. And finally they pray for the salvation of all of us in the sure knowledge that “…the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.”
So today as our religious pray for all of us, let us pray for them, that the Lord will give them strength and the reward that comes to all the faithful at the end of all things.
Pax
[1] Sardis: this city, located ca. thirty miles southeast of Thyatira, was once the capital of Lydia, known for its wealth at the time of Croesus (6th century B.C.). Its citadel, reputed to be unassailable, was captured by surprise, first by Cyrus and later by Antiochus. The church is therefore warned to be on guard.
[2] Laodicea: ca. forty miles southeast of Philadelphia and ca. eighty miles east of Ephesus, a wealthy industrial and commercial center, with a renowned medical school. It exported fine woolen garments and was famous for its eye salves. It was so wealthy that it was proudly rebuilt without outside aid after the devastating earthquake of A.D. 60/61.
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