The church celebrates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to God in the temple, where Joachim and Anna, the holy parents of the Blessed Virgin, consecrated their little daughter to the divine service in the temple at Jerusalem, and Mary consecrated herself to the Almighty. At that time, there were two ways of consecrating children, one was ordained by the law, which required every male child to be offered to God, forty days, and every female child, eighty days after its birth. This ceremony was called the consecration of the child and the purification of the mother. Many parents had consecrated their children to the service of God, but Mary surpassed them all in innocence and grace, in heavenly virtues and gifts; hence it cannot be doubted that her sacrifice surpassed all others, and was more agreeable to the Almighty.
In following the example of Joachim and Anna, parents should not merely offer your children to God in His temple, but that you should take care to keep them pure and holy, as living temples of the Holy Spirit which have been consecrated in Baptism.
Mary gives and dedicates herself to God as soon as she is capable of serving Him, and that without any reservation, for all time, and irrevocably. When, then, shall we give ourselves in earnest to God?
Mary's presentation to God was an offering most acceptable in His sight. Let our consecration of ourselves to God be made under her patronage, and assisted by her powerful intercession and the union of her merits.
As we venerate the glorious memory of the most holy Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, O Lord, through her intercession, that we, too, may merit to receive from the fullness of your grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.
Thursday, 21 November, 2013
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Memorial)Reading 11 Maccabees 2: 15 - 29
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| 15 | Then the king's officers who were enforcing the apostasy came to the city of Modein to make them offer sacrifice. |
| 16 | Many from Israel came to them; and Mattathias and his sons were assembled. |
| 17 | Then the king's officers spoke to Mattathias as follows: "You are a leader, honored and great in this city, and supported by sons and brothers. |
| 18 | Now be the first to come and do what the king commands, as all the Gentiles and the men of Judah and those that are left in Jerusalem have done. Then you and your sons will be numbered among the friends of the king, and you and your sons will be honored with silver and gold and many gifts." |
| 19 | But Mattathias answered and said in a loud voice: "Even if all the nations that live under the rule of the king obey him, and have chosen to do his commandments, departing each one from the religion of his fathers, |
| 20 | yet I and my sons and my brothers will live by the covenant of our fathers. |
| 21 | Far be it from us to desert the law and the ordinances. |
| 22 | We will not obey the king's words by turning aside from our religion to the right hand or to the left." |
| 23 | When he had finished speaking these words, a Jew came forward in the sight of all to offer sacrifice upon the altar in Modein, according to the king's command. |
| 24 | When Mattathias saw it, be burned with zeal and his heart was stirred. He gave vent to righteous anger; he ran and killed him upon the altar. |
| 25 | At the same time he killed the king's officer who was forcing them to sacrifice, and he tore down the altar. |
| 26 | Thus he burned with zeal for the law, as Phinehas did against Zimri the son of Salu. |
| 27 | Then Mattathias cried out in the city with a loud voice, saying: "Let every one who is zealous for the law and supports the covenant come out with me!" |
| 28 | And he and his sons fled to the hills and left all that they had in the city. |
| 29 | Then many who were seeking righteousness and justice went down to the wilderness to dwell there, |
PsalmPsalms 50: 1 - 2, 5 - 6, 14 - 15
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| 1 | The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting. |
| 2 | Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines forth. |
| 5 | "Gather to me my faithful ones, who made a covenant with me by sacrifice!" |
| 6 | The heavens declare his righteousness, for God himself is judge! [Selah] |
| 14 | Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High; |
| 15 | and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." |
Gospel Luke 19: 41 - 44
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| 41 | And when he drew near and saw the city he wept over it, |
| 42 | saying, "Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hid from your eyes. |
| 43 | For the days shall come upon you, when your enemies will cast up a bank about you and surround you, and hem you in on every side, |
| 44 | and dash you to the ground, you and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another in you; because you did not know the time of your visitation." |
