Sunday:       Presentation of Mary
Date:         November 21, 2003
Year:         C
The readings: [1 Macc. 4:36-37, 52-59; Lk. 19:45-48]
The message:  Presenting to God what belongs to Him.
Prepared by:  CATHOLIC DOORS MINISTRY
Total words:  725

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Welcome to today's celebration of the Feast of the "Presentation of Mary." For those who are unfamiliar with this Feast, in older days, it was the Jewish custom for parents to present their child to God at the Temple before the age of five. This Feast commemorates the day on which the Blessed Virgin Mary was presented to the Temple of Jerusalem at age 3 by her parents, Saint Anne and Saint Joachim.

Sometimes, the child remained in the Temple to be educated and trained to serve the sanctuary and its priests by sewing vestments and ornaments, assisting at the services or contributing to the worship of God in the various liturgical offices. Inspired by the vision of the Temple priest, Sts Anne and Joachim left Mary at the Temple to serve God.

This background knowledge originates from some apocryphal writings, namely from the Protoevangel of James, the Gospel of Pseudo-Matthew and the Gospel of the Nativity of Mary. It was not until 1585 that this Feast was entered into the Western liturgical calendar. Although there is no mention of the Feast in the eight century Menology of Constantinople, it is referred to in liturgical documents of the 11 th century.

Today's First Reading from the First Book of Maccabee [1 Macc. 4:36-37, 52-59] was taken from Chapter 4, Verses 36 to 71, this Chapter having to do with the Purification and Dedication of the Temple. As we known from historical records, the Temple of Jerusalem was built, destroyed and rebuilt numerous times. Whenever the Temple had been used for abominations, it had to be purified according to the Jewish Law and the rededicated to the Lord God.

Today's Gospel Reading [Lk. 19:45-48] also made reference to the Temple. It concerned the cleansing of the Temple, Jesus driving out those who were using the House of God for unholy purposes. The merchants had originally set up tables to sell live animals for the Temple pilgrims who wanted to make sacrifices. At first, this trade was a convenience, especially for those who came from far away, they not having to transport their live animal for sacrifice to the Temple. They could just buy one at the Temple. Over time, the merchants became greedy and they were charging extremely high amounts of money for the animals, knowing that the strangers from far away who visited the Temple had no other recourse but to pay the demanded amount of money. This is why Jesus called them "robbers." The merchants were not at the Temple to worship; they were there to make money by associating themselves to the Temple.

The Temple played an important role in the life of the Jewish people. It was the House of God, not just for prayer, but also for the upbringing of children who were presented to God at the Temple.

Of all the children that were presented to God to stay at any Temple in any time frame, the child Mary was the most wonderful gift that could ever be made. The child Mary was not just any child; she was the Immaculate Conception child, created pure by God as the Second Eve who's womb was to become the living Temple of God.

Not only was the fullness of God please to dwell in Jesus [Col. 1:19, 2:9] , the fullness of God was also pleased to dwell in the living Temple of the Virgin Mary during her pregnancy.

Because of the greatness of the Commission to which Blessed Mary was called to serve, her dwelling in the Temple alongside other children who had been dedicated to God also served the purpose of protecting her from being exposed to the many evil ways of the world. It is unlikely that the child Mary was ever exposed to street bullies, foul language, dishonesty, and the other sins that are commonly found among the foolish youth.

Today, as we reflect upon the Presentation of Mary to the Lord, let us consider presenting ourselves to God as His servants. While we could never equal the greatness of Mary's presentation, each personal presentation, no matter how small, is a gift to God worthy of His recognition. For the Lord always seeks out labourers to spread His Word, not only in our country, but throughout the four corners of the world.

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The readings...

[The readings were taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible (C) 1989 Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the United States of America.]

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First Reading...

"Judas, who was called Maccabeus, took command of the army in place of his father, Mattathias, and he defeated the army of King Antiochus which was commanded by Lysias. Then Judas and his brothers said, 'See, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.' So all the army assembled and went up to Mount Zion.

Early in the morning on the twenty-fifth day of the ninth month, which is the month of Chislev, in the one hundred forty-eighth year, they rose and offered sacrifice, as the law directs, on the new altar of burnt offering that they had built. At the very season and on the very day that the Gentiles had profaned it, it was dedicated with songs and harps and lutes and cymbals. All the people fell on their faces and worshipped and blessed Heaven, who had prospered them.

So they celebrated the dedication of the altar for eight days, and joyfully offered burnt offering; they offered a sacrifice of well-being and a thanksgiving offering. They decorated the front of the temple with golden crowns and small shields; they restored the gates and the chambers for the priests, and fitted them with doors. There was very great joy among the people, and the disgrace brought by the Gentiles was removed.

Then Judas and his brothers and all the assembly of Israel determined that every year at that season the days of dedication of the altar should be observed with joy and gladness for eight days, beginning with the twenty-fifth day of the month of Chislev." [1 Macc. 4:36-37, 52-59]

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Gospel Reading...

"Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, 'It is written, 'My house shall be a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of robbers.'

Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard." [Lk. 19:45-48]

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