Sunday:       Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Date:         November 21, 2014.
Year:         A
The readings: [Rev. 10:8-11; Lk. 19:45-48]
The message:  Faithfully serving the Lord God.
Prepared by:  Catholic Doors Ministry
Total words:  725

Click here for the Index of all the Homilies

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 Daniel [1 Dan. 1:1-6. 8-20] is biblically known as "The Food Test." It is a reference to the time in the Jewish history when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded Jerusalem and took the Jewish people into exile.

As we heard earlier, some men, namely Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the tribe of Judah, were chosen to be taught the literature and language of the Chaldeans while residing in the palace of king Nebuchadnezzar. During this residence, they were assigned a daily portion of the royal rations of food and wine. This food consisted of a pork, a meat that was considered unclean by the Jewish people. For that reason, they were forbidden to eat any of it.

When we consider how the chain of events occurred, Daniel and his friends did not having to eat any of the pork, the First Reading implies that God did not allow the young men of the Babylonian Exile to suffer harm when they refused to partake of the pagans' food and drink. It also implies that in time of hardship, during exile and persecution, those who refused to violate the Mosaic Law by not eating pork, heavenly aid would be sent to them in one form or another. In this case, the palace master had been hand chosen by God to care for Daniel and his friends. Because of the palace master's flexibility on the matter of what should be eaten and drank, the Jewish men were able to remain faithful to the Mosaic Law. What they wished in their hearts was fulfilled by the grace of God.

To adapt this reading to today and our life in the Church, it can be said that those 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. Do we back off as soon as an obstacle presents itself? Or do we remain faithful, trusting in the Lord Jesus to provide all of our needs?

* * * * * * * * * *

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.]

* * * * * * * * * *

First Reading...

"I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me. Then the voice spoke to me and said: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. He said to me, “Take and swallow it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.” I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it. In my mouth it was like sweet honey, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” [Rev. 10:8-11]

* * * * * * * * * *

Gospel Reading...

"Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out those who were selling things, saying to them, “It is written, My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” And every day he was teaching in the temple area. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people, meanwhile, were seeking to put him to death, but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words." [Lk. 19:45-48]

* * * * * * * * * *