Bible Reflections I 21.11.2022 - MONDAY I INDRAYA MANNA I

Ordinary Time - Week 34

Readings 

           I - Rev. 14: 1-3, 4-5

          II - Lk. 21: 1-4

                  

PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

                  

Today the Church celebrates the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the temple. The feast recalls the grace filled moment when the parents of Mother Mary, St. Joachim and St. Anne presented their daughter in the temple. Against all odds, captivity, exile, desecration of their temple, oppression and suppression, the people of Israel hoped in the deliverance of the Lord. In every new born they hoped for God’s promise of deliverance: the Messiah. To echo Prophet Zechariah, in her presentation, Mary enters the temple as ‘Daughter of Sion’ that signaled the imminent coming of the Immanuel. Mary enters the temple as the chosen of God, who would one day become the temple of the Lord - the Word made Flesh!  

The Gospel passage of the day is about the widow who presented two small copper coins to the Lord in the temple. She contributed all that she had for her living to Lord must be with great devotion and love for the Lord and won also the appreciation of the Lord. From the feast and the Gospel passage of the day, we can take away two points for our life. One, the role of family in the life of children. In bringing up Mary, in way that the Lord God wanted, St. Joachim and St. Anne, made her befitting to be the Mother of the Lord. Create a conducive environment in the family for the children to grow up as God’s children. And two, the attitude behind every one of our offering should be love and devotion with no self-seeking interests. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Blessed Virgin Mary, Pray for us”.