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Gospel: Mark 3: 31-35
Jesus’ mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.”
But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and [my] brothers?”
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Today’s Feast of the Presentation teaches us three lessons in the spiritual life:
Gratitude. Pilgrimage. Return.
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The actual event of Mary’s presentation is shrouded in mystery; we don’t know exactly when she was brought to the Temple. Scholars believe that her parents, Anne and Joachim, brought Mary to Jerusalem at the age of three, where they consecrated her to the Lord.
This was an act of thanksgiving because Anne was barren prior to Mary’s birth.
In the Old Testament, whenever a woman was unable to conceive a child, it was seen as a curse by God. The fact that Anne conceives a child – and the future Virgin Mother of God nonetheless – is part of what we celebrate today.
We also celebrate Anne and Joachim’s faith. Mary was their only child. And without reservation, one of the first things they do as parents is take Mary on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, where they offer her back to God.
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Again, here we find three important lessons:
First, give thanks. We’re more aware of our need for gratitude during this week of Thanksgiving, but today’s feast reminds us to always thank God for an answered prayer.
Second, go on pilgrimage. There are certain times in our lives when we need to go out of our way to celebrate and understand our faith. Perhaps now is the time to plan a pilgrimage to Rome, Fatima, or some other important Christian site.
Third, and most importantly, give to God what belongs to God. Anne and Joachim take what is most precious – their only child – and offer her back to God in gratitude, promising that Mary will spend her life in service. We know in hindsight just how true that would be.
We’re called to do the same – to place in God’s hands whatever we hold most precious in life – our children, our marriage, our very own heart. Everything given back in service to God.
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Gratitude. Pilgrimage. Return.
Three different elements found in today’s feast.
Which of the these am I being called to practice today?
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Image credits: (1) Vatican News (2) Vatican News (3) PerfectinChrist Daily Devotional