Memorial of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. Though not mentioned in Scripture, some apocryphal writings, the Protoevangelium of James in particular, tell of Mary’s parents, Joachim and Ann bringing her to the Temple to live at the age of three. This was in fulfillment of a promise made by St Anne before Mary’s conception. The theological importance of the feast stems from its emphasis on Mary’s total dedication to God from before her birth through her childhood.
In today’s first reading we find Daniel and his companions resisting King Nebuchadnezzar’s orders to eat the food and wine forbidden by Jewish custom. And in Luke’s Gospel, we see the poor widow putting everything she has in the treasury of the temple. I do not imagine that the actions of Daniel and the widow were isolated incidences, but rather a reflection of the way they lived. There must have been a longstanding, deep and reflexive trust in God for them to have acted in the manner they did. This is how their lives were “presented” to God. The fact of the matter is, not only did God take care of Daniel and the widow but they were abundantly blessed by him.
The entire life of the Blessed Virgin was characterized by this type of “God-reliance” as well. When I think of Mary I do not find myself seeing individual acts or deeds. Rather, I am inclined to view her life as a whole—one lived and presented as a perfect offering to God. It is about who she was and how she lived her life in fulfillment of who God intended her to be. Her life can truly be seen as the perfect prayer presented to the Holy Immortal One. Not only did Mary realize her life was dedicated to God, she realized the total dependence necessary to allow him to accomplish what was intended through her.
Mary is our most powerful intercessor. Let us give thanks for this most beautiful gift of our most Blessed Mother and plead for her assistance on our journey this day.
"O perfect Virgin, intercede for me once again!
Through your son, Jesus, make my life more closely resemble yours.
And at the end of this day, may our Holy Immortal God
be pleased when I present my life before him.
Amen."
- Gail Lyman