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November 21, 2017

According to tradition, at the age of three, Mary was brought by her parents Joachim and Anne to the Temple at Jerusalem to present and consecrate her to the service of the Lord. She remained there in prayer and service until she was betrothed to Joseph. Today we pray for the men and women in monasteries and hermitages who serve the Lord and the Church through prayer and quiet work.

Today we also reflect on the responsibilities of parents for their children. Joachim and Anne took special care of their unique daughter Mary, teaching her what love and service of God are. What Christian values do we teach our children? How do we
do it? Hopefully by word and example. At the rite of baptism parents are reminded of their obligation to teach and rear their children and that they are their first teachers, and hopefully their best teachers.

Mary and Joseph, the mother and the foster-father of Jesus, did the same for the child Jesus and helped him grow “in wisdom and age, and in divine and human favor.” (Lk 2:52) How have we done in the growth and development of our children?

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 33, Issue 6

<< Tuesday, November 21, 2017 >>

Presentation of Mary

2 Maccabees 6:18-31
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Psalm 3:2-7

Luke 19:1-10
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WHAT DO THE SAVED DO?

"Today salvation has come to this house, for this is what it means to be a son of Abraham." �Luke 19:9

When salvation came to Zacchaeus and his house, Zacchaeus was moved to say: "I give half my belongings, Lord, to the poor" (Lk 19:8). This expression of salvation has been common throughout Church history. Jesus loved and challenged a man by saying to him: "There is one thing more you must do. Go and sell what you have and give to the poor; you will then have treasure in heaven. After that, come and follow Me" (Mk 10:21). Peter said to Jesus: "We have put aside everything to follow you!" (Mk 10:28) In the early Church, "all who owned property or houses sold them and donated the proceeds" (Acts 4:34) to the extent that Ananias and Sapphira felt compelled to lie about giving the Church all the proceeds from property which they sold (Acts 5:1ff). When we give our lives to Christ, all is new (2 Cor 5:17), and "money is no object."

Christianity is the most radical decision possible for a human being. To follow the crucified Savior is to lose our lives (Lk 9:24) and be "delivered from the futile way of life" handed on to us by our materialistic culture (1 Pt 1:18). Let us be converted as Zacchaeus was converted. Let us be crucified with Christ (Gal 2:19). Let us love as Jesus loves.

Prayer: Father, may I repent by Your standards.

Promise: "This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation." �2 Mc 6:31

Praise: Mary, Our Lady of Presentation, played an integral part in opening the eyes of the disciples by asking Jesus to perform His first miracle. Because of this miracle at the wedding in Cana, "His disciples believed in Him" (Jn 2:11).