Sunday: PRESENTATION OF MARY Date: November 21, 2006 Year: B The readings: [Rev. 3:1-6, 14-22; Lk. 19:1-10] The message: I will give to the poor. Prepared by: CATHOLIC DOORS MINISTRY Total words: 1039 |
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May I take this opportunity to wish you all a happy Feast of the Presentation of Mary. The origin of this Feast is at least 400 years old. It was first commemorated in the Western Liturgical Calendar in 1585.
Some of you may wonder why we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Mary. It is to commemorate the day on which the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saints Anne and Joachim, presented Mary at the age of three to the Temple of God. This was done in accordance with the Jewish Custom that parents present their child to God at the Temple before the age of five.
In a way, we can say that the Presentation of Mary to the Temple is a picture of the Baptism of infants, when the newborns are presented to God for admission into the Body of Christ.
Another parallel that is found in the Jewish tradition versus today is in the education of the children. In the days of the Old Testament, children who remained in the Temple as Mary did, were educated in the ways of God by the priest. Nowadays, those who are baptized as infants, they are educated in the Catholic faith by their parents and godparents who are members of the common priesthood. [1 Pet. 2:5]
When I say, "they are educated in the Catholic faith," this is to be understood as a reference to those parents and godparents who fulfill their promises before God and the Church by nurturing the child in the Catholic Faith.
Today's First Reading from the Book of Revelations begins by addressing the members of the Church of Sardis. The inhabitants of this city had the reputation of living luxuriously and licentiously (sexually unrestrained, lewd, immoral...). Although this community had the appearance of Christianity, it had fallen back into spiritual death, from which Christ had drawn it. [Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13]
The people are told to be watchful, being reminded of what they have received and heard, told to obey it and repent. Otherwise, if they do not wake up, the Lord will come as a thief when they least expect it. They same applies to us nowadays. If we live in sin, how do we know if we will have the opportunity to repent prior to dying or the return of Christ at the end of time? For no one knows when they will die. Nor does anyone know when Christ shall return at the end of time, at which time it will be too late to repent and receive the Sacrament of Confession.
In the midst of sexual immorality, there are a few who have not soiled their clothes, thismeaning that they have not given themselves over to the sexual debauchery of the pagans. Christians, by their baptism, were transformed by Christ. [Gal. 3:27] Those who are victorious, by resisting the temptations of sin, they will live in intimacy with the glorious Christ and they will enjoy the heavenly beatitude. Their names will registered in the book of God that only contains the names of living citizens, the just ones. [Ps. 69:29; Dn. 12:1; Mal. 3:16] These citizens possess heavenly citizenship [Lk. 10:20; Phil 4:3] which permits them to escape judgment and to enter into eternal life. [Rev. 13:8, 17:8, 20:12, 20:25, 21:27]
Continuing in the same reading, the members of the Church in Laodicea are informed that because they are neither cold, nor hot, wishing to remain lukewarm in the commitment to Christ, God will spit them out of His mouth, rejecting them because they are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind and naked.
Laodicea was a wealthy city because of its commercial interests and banking activities, and famous ofr its flourishing medical school. This city, having received the most severe reprimand, is not accused of any particular grave fault. It is condemned for its existing state of tepidity (lukewarm, unemotional, halfhearted, apathetic...) and self-satisfaction.
Laodicea enjoyed material well-being, and the absence of troubles. Such an enjoyment brings on pride, which, in folding man in on himself, closes him to every gift from Christ. Here we perceive an understanding as to why it is difficult for the rich to enter Heaven. Many of them are full of pride, boasting of their riches. They lack the gift of humility.
In this Reading, Christ contrasts riches that He can grant to the illusory advantages offered by the city of Laodicea. Only He can give real riches, the fullness of salvaiton, and the authentic healing. He who will give attention to the call of Christ and who will open to Him, he will participate with the Lord in the joys of the banquet in the time that is to come. [Mt. 8:11; Mk. 14:25; Lk. 22:29]
Today's Gospel Reading was about Zacchaeus the publican, the tax collector. Another wealthy man, perhaps unethical in some of his business practices, he freely detaches himself of his goods. He does not refuse the opportunity from which the wealthy man in Luke 18:18-30 turned away. What was very noticeable in this reading is that Zacchaeus went beyond the requirements of the law in restitution.
Through this Reading, we are reminded that if we have done wrong to others by taking what does not belong to us, we are required to return it. This also includes taking little things from our place of employment, be it a pen, paper or other goods.
To relate today's readings to our life in the Church, it can be said that those who wish to remain faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church, the Lord God shall provide them with the means to do so. Even in time of obstacles, the grace of God is always at work. To perceive this grace, we must pray for guidance of the Holy Spirit and take the time to listen so we can hear in our heart what the Spirit of Jesus is telling us, which way He is guiding us in life on a day to day basis.
During the remaining of the day, let us reflect on how the grace of God is manifesting itself through us because of our faithfulness to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Are we lukewarm regarding the teachings of the Church? Or are we faithful, trusting in the Lord Jesus to provide all of our needs?
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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...
"In my vision, I, John, heard the voice of the Lord, saying, 'And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars:
I know your works; you have a name of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is on the point of death, for I have not found your works perfect in the sight of my God. Remember that what you received and heard; obey it, and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. Yet you have still a few persons in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes; they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. If you conquer, you will be clothed like them in white robes, and I will not blot your name out of the book of life; I will confess your name before my Father and before his angels. Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the origin of God's creation:
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spit you out of my mouth. For you say, 'I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing.' You do not realize that you are wretched, and pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.
Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich: and white robes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen: and salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. I reprove and discipline those whom I love. Be earnest, therefore, and repent.
Listen! I am standing at the door, knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to you and eat with you, and you with me.
To the one who conquers I will give a place with me on my throne, just as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.
Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches." [Rev. 3:1-6, 14-22]
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Gospel Reading...
"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, 'Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today.' So Zacchaeus hurried down and was happy to welcome Jesus. All who saw it began to grumble and said, 'He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.' Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.'
Then Jesus said to him, 'Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost." [Lk. 19:1-10]
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