21 November 2020
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Today’s memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary serves as a reminder of the complete dedication to God to which we are all ultimately called. Although it is not attested in Scripture, this memorial follows an ancient tradition—more prominent in the Eastern Church than in the West—that Mary was presented in the Temple at the age of three in order to be consecrated to God. In this, as in all things, Mary follows her Son, who was presented in the Temple forty days after His birth (cf. Luke 2:22-24). Just as her Son’s life, from his Incarnation all the way to his Ascension, was completely defined by obedience toward his Heavenly Father, who sent his Son to redeem us, so Mary’s life, from her Immaculate Conception to her Assumption, was completely dedicated to the Lord. Mary’s heart is in no way divided; it is completely directed to God, and by her single-heartedness of devotion to God she is able, in a seeming paradox, to also embrace all of us as her sons and daughters (cf. John 19:26-27).
Like Mary, we are called to dedicate our lives completely to the Lord so that we might bring others to Christ. As we go throughout our day, let us strive to be dedicated to the Lord after Mary’s example, and let us ask our Mother to intercede and obtain this grace for us from her Son.