21 November 2014
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today, we commemorate the Presentation of Mary, when her parents brought her to the Temple and offered her to God. In the gospel reading today, we see that the Temple is not exactly a pure place in Jesus’ day, often being used for purposes other than prayer and worship of God. Yet Mary’s parents still brought her to the Temple to be dedicated to God. No one could have possibly imagined that on that day in an imperfect Temple, the one who would become a perfect temple of God, bearing Him for nine months, was present.
Mary as the incorruptible temple of God should give us pause. Mary is the Mother of God. At the same time, she is also our own mother. If we really mean that, then we see there is a real relationship between Mary and us. There is even a “family resemblance” between Mary and us. In a sermon by St. Augustine, read in the Office of Readings today, he declares “having said that all of you are brothers of Christ, shall I not dare to call you his mother?” As Mary was dedicated to God by her parents, we should also be dedicated to God; as Mary was a Temple for Jesus, bringing Him into the world, we too are called to bring Jesus into the world. Reflecting on Mary at the feast of her presentation, we would do well to think about our family resemblance to her, and what that looks like in our own lives.