The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Rev. 11:4-12, Lk. 20:27-40. Today, we celebrate an important truth about Mary: From the beginning of her life, she was dedicated to God. As a dedicated child of God, she was called by God to become a greater Temple than the magnificent Temple in Jerusalem. If the Jerusalem Temple remains the constant reminder of the presence of God, the place where God is believed to be present in a special way, Mary became the house of the Lord in an even greater way, because she carried the Lord in her womb till birth. God came to dwell in her, through Jesus, because she was open to the presence of God from the earliest years of her life. She is the prime example of the group that Jesus refers to in today’s Gospel as those who will be raised at the resurrection of the dead. Unlike the Sadducees they aim to restrict everything to material things and to the limits of human intelligence. Such attitudes have their reflection in the way we treat life and things of this world. The question of resurrection and eternal life goes beyond human logic and categories.

The Lord’s revelation guides us to trust in Divine infinite ways as God loves us and His friendship with us does not end with death, but desires to share with us His life and joy for all eternity. In today's first reading, John summarises his conviction to share his life with Christ as a 'martyr' in the idea that God’s witnesses (martyroi) may have to suffer persecution and death because of the forces that opposes the Gospel value. These forces resort to hateful actions, even outright execution in order to silence the prophets and witnesses of God. Yet, in the end, God lifts up the lowly and make the persecutors see the divine power as God raises up the dead earthly witnesses (martyroi). God is the God of the living and not of the dead and offers life that never ends to those who shares their lives with Him. We are living at a moment in human history, but we ae created for eternity: life with God in happiness and glory.

As we rejoice in the memory of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may the Lord inspire us that we may also be righteous, virtuous and strong in faith as Mary has shown us! Amen!! Keep safe and do have a Happy weekend!!!