Additional Information about the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary[1]
Readings for Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31
This selection from the Second Book of Maccabees provides examples of courage in the face of extreme cruelty based upon belief in the resurrection on the last day. This is one of the important theological ideas expounded upon in the book and provides a framework for our later understanding of the importance of Christ’s sacrifice and promise.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Psalm 17 is an individual lament. The psalmist sings for God’s help in distress, having been firm in faithfulness, the Lord is called upon for justice. The tone of this song supports the trials of the seven brothers in Second Maccabees above.
Gospel Lk 19:11-28
This selection from St. Luke’s Gospel contains two parables interwoven. The first is the Parable of the Talents (see also Mt 25:14ff) . The second is Parable of the rejected King. This later parable could have had historical significance since after the death of Herod the Great, his son Archelaus went to Rome to receive the same authority. He was opposed by a delegation of Jews. Although he was not given the title of King he was given authority over Judea and Samaria. This parallel used by St. Luke would have served to stop speculation about the immanent parousia. A second possibility is that the Lord himself was predicting that his impending entry to Jerusalem was not to be a glorious kingship but rather he would have to travel to a far distant place (heaven) to receive that crown.
St. Luke’s version of the Parable of the Talents serves to reinforce the idea that the faithful must be diligent in building up the Kingdom of God through the use of what God has provided. Failure to do so (presuming the immanent second coming and laying down one’s vocation) would result in sever punishment.
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.” Today, the Church will recognize those who pray for us.
St. Luke’s Gospel unites with the Blessed Virgin’s great wish for us, that we might be faithful to her Son and diligent in using the gifts we have been given for his greater glory. Her entire life was a love offering to God. From what we here of her earliest years in ancient documents (See Protoevangelium of James (c. 150) and Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (c. 400)) her dedication, and that of her parents to the service first of the Father and then her Son was complete. The first words of her great canticle “My soul magnifies the Lord” sets the example she asks us to follow.
Indeed, just as Joachim, Mary’s father and Anna, her mother, set her aside from her birth for the great purpose God had for her, so we are called to dedicate our gifts and abilities to the Glory of the Father. And we have assistance in our mission to do so. Not only do we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to sustain us in our effort but we have untold numbers of holy women praying for our success and the success of the mission of the Church.
Today we re-dedicate ourselves and our efforts to God and we also pray for those who pray for us as we celebrate “’Pro Orantibus’ Day.
Pax
[1] The Picture used today is “The Presentation of the Virgin” by Cima da Conegliano, 1495 (est.)
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
Readings for Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary[2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31
This selection from the Second Book of Maccabees provides examples of courage in the face of extreme cruelty based upon belief in the resurrection on the last day. This is one of the important theological ideas expounded upon in the book and provides a framework for our later understanding of the importance of Christ’s sacrifice and promise.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1bcd, 5-6, 8b and 15
R. Lord, when your glory appears, my joy will be full.
Psalm 17 is an individual lament. The psalmist sings for God’s help in distress, having been firm in faithfulness, the Lord is called upon for justice. The tone of this song supports the trials of the seven brothers in Second Maccabees above.
Gospel Lk 19:11-28
This selection from St. Luke’s Gospel contains two parables interwoven. The first is the Parable of the Talents (see also Mt 25:14ff) . The second is Parable of the rejected King. This later parable could have had historical significance since after the death of Herod the Great, his son Archelaus went to Rome to receive the same authority. He was opposed by a delegation of Jews. Although he was not given the title of King he was given authority over Judea and Samaria. This parallel used by St. Luke would have served to stop speculation about the immanent parousia. A second possibility is that the Lord himself was predicting that his impending entry to Jerusalem was not to be a glorious kingship but rather he would have to travel to a far distant place (heaven) to receive that crown.
St. Luke’s version of the Parable of the Talents serves to reinforce the idea that the faithful must be diligent in building up the Kingdom of God through the use of what God has provided. Failure to do so (presuming the immanent second coming and laying down one’s vocation) would result in sever punishment.
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.” Today, the Church will recognize those who pray for us.
St. Luke’s Gospel unites with the Blessed Virgin’s great wish for us, that we might be faithful to her Son and diligent in using the gifts we have been given for his greater glory. Her entire life was a love offering to God. From what we here of her earliest years in ancient documents (See Protoevangelium of James (c. 150) and Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (c. 400)) her dedication, and that of her parents to the service first of the Father and then her Son was complete. The first words of her great canticle “My soul magnifies the Lord” sets the example she asks us to follow.
Indeed, just as Joachim, Mary’s father and Anna, her mother, set her aside from her birth for the great purpose God had for her, so we are called to dedicate our gifts and abilities to the Glory of the Father. And we have assistance in our mission to do so. Not only do we have the gift of the Holy Spirit to sustain us in our effort but we have untold numbers of holy women praying for our success and the success of the mission of the Church.
Today we re-dedicate ourselves and our efforts to God and we also pray for those who pray for us as we celebrate “’Pro Orantibus’ Day.
Pax
[1] The Picture used today is “The Presentation of the Virgin” by Cima da Conegliano, 1495 (est.)
[2] After Links to Readings Expire
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