SATURDAY 33RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
MEMORIAL OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Apocalypse 11:4-12
Luke 20:27-40
NOTHING GOES BEYOND THIS WORLD EXPECT OUR SOUL
An extra biblical writing known as the protevangelium of James narrates how Joachim and Anne the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary grew to a very old age without having a child. We are told that they made a promise to God that any child they may be blessed with will be dedicated to God.
Today we celebrate that presentation of Mary in the temple, to do the will of God. This happened in our world where culture and tradition often tear families apart. It cannot be imagined today that a man and wife will stay till old age without a child and they will be comfortable with it. It is either the man marries another wife, or the woman goes her own way. It is an act if great faith for couples without children to continue to stay together, trusting God to bless them with a child. Joachim and Anne were blessed with the virgin Mary and Mary was specially favoured and chosen by God to be the mother of his son. Mary therefore was graciously prepared by God.
In the gospel reading of today, we see a typical human way of thinking about child bearing. A woman who was unable to give birth before her husband died was meant to marry the brother of her husband to raise children for the family. This happened to all the brothers of her deceased husband. In some of our societies today, this practice still persists. People do all sorts of things to raise children. Jesus tells us today, that it is only in this world that we worry about wife, husband, children, brother, sister, money and so on. In the world to come, there is no marriage, no child bearing, and no material or human possession. We shall all be like God. Let us therefore present ourselves to be used by God like Mary, knowing that the traditions and things we attach ourselves to, hinder us from worshipping God fully. God help us. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP
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