Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

About today:

 

Today is the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord. It celebrates Jesus the Messiah coming into the world. It is a day of great joy and thanksgivings. It is set 40 days after the solemnity of Christmas.  The day Mary and Joseph consecrated Jesus in the Temple of Jerusalem, in obedience to God and fulfilling Mosaic Law. Simeon, a righteous man, utters a prophecy that Jesus will be the light of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. Anna thanks God for the child and tells everyone about. Those who were waiting for the Messiah and looked to God for the deliverance of Jerusalem. And Simeon says to Mary that along with great joy, there is also the shadow of the cross, the opposition Jesus will face and the sword of suffering Mary, too, will experience.

 

And for us it is a day of celebrating too of course. For we know Jesus Christ and of course we know the rest of the Good News.

 

But there is something else here for us we may have overlooked. For even in this presentation we hear that Mary would have an important role, beyond just being the mother of Jesus.

 

At the cross Jesus gave her to John as his mother and our mother. But here too we here of what she brings to the world. For it is also through Mary pointing to Jesus always that many hearts are revealed. Hearts will either choose him or not.

 

…”and you yourself a sword will pierce-
so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

 

Mary, our mother in heaven does what mothers do. She supports and comforts and brings the cries of her children to those who can help them. In our case, she brings our needs and cries and sorrows and love in our heart to Jesus too. She is a mother who wants the best for all of us and helps us find our way to Jesus. But she also prays for us and our needs.

 

As we celebrate this day in the life of Jesus and his family let’s remember that this Holy Family is our family too. And Mary is our mother. Open our hearts to her and allow here to find a path to her son.

 

Thank you Mary for saying yes. Thank you for hearing our sorrows and needs and asking your son to come to our aid.