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The Presentation of Mary in the Temple

Scripture:

2 Maccabees 6:18-31
Luke 19:1-10

Reflection:

This feastday celebrates the occasion of Mary being presented to God in the temple, by her parents, Joachim and Anna.  The historical record of this event is not found in the bible, since the protocol surrounding this religious ceremony centered on a male child rather than a female child.  This doesn’t necessarily mean a girl-baby could not be presented to God, but simply that a boy-baby should be presented in the temple, according to a ritual then in use.  Given the kind of parents Mary was privileged to have, in Joachim and Anna, it is likely that such parents would have sought to offer their daughter to God in this manner.  But the historical accuracy is not to the fore in this celebration, but rather the devotion of St. Paul of the Cross, who named the first monasteries of both the Passionist men and the Passionist women in honor of the Presentation of Mary.

We get the gist of this devotion from our biblical readings today.  The first reading unfolds the history of the Jewish prophet Samuel, beginning in the temple in Jerusalem, when Samuel was a young apprentice, so to speak, of the priest of the temple, Eli, an old man at this point in time.  We learn of Samuel’s encounter with the Lord, occurring in the temple where both of them were living at the time.  One night Samuel was awakened three times by a voice calling him, and the lad ran to the old priest in response to this call he heard.  It was only on the third call that Eli realized this was the voice of God calling this young apprentice of his, and so he instructed the youngster to reply: “Speak, I am listening.”

This incident stands at the heart of the spirituality associated with this feastday of the Presentation of Mary.  It is one of reverential openness to whatever God might be asking, and this, in turn, would resonate with the spirituality of St. Paul of the Cross, whose openness of attitude toward God’s will in his regard carried Paul through some trying moments as he at times struggled to get his new community (the Passionists) established, and on their way.  It was not an easy task for him, but he eventually prevailed.  It was his sense of God’s presence to him through thick and thin that enabled him to get his new community of the Passionists underway.

And much the same interaction occurred in the life of Jesus on the occasion that He entered the town of Jericho, and encountered Zacchaeus, “a chief tax collector and a wealthy man”.  Unlike the young Samuel, Zacchaeus made an opportunity for himself to meet the Lord, by climbing a tree lining the road down which Jesus was passing, for Zacchaeus was a short man.  Whereas Samuel was feeling his way along a new venture for himself, Zacchaeus exuded a considerable amount of self-confidence and jumped at the opportunity to wine and dine Jesus at his own house.  And while the young Samuel had to observe his Ps and Qs in ascertaining the next step to take in dealing with the Lord, Zacchaeus was taking the initiative to cement his relationship with Jesus by showing how he was going to improve his style of life, gaining thereby Jesus’ very encouraging approval: “Today salvation has come to this house…”

So this feast of the Presentation of Mary to the Lord speaks to those who are open to any overtures God makes in their lives, as the young Samuel showed, and also to those who initiate opportunities to meet the Lord in ways that they themselves develop.  The Presentation of Mary offers us the opportunity to see how God operates in our lives, so as to respond to them.

Fr. Sebastian MacDonald, C.P. is a member of the Passionist Community in Louisville, Kentucky.

Scripture:

1 Maccabees 1: 10-15, 41-43,
54-57, 62-63
Luke 18: 35-43

Reflection:

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

The Scripture readings today present quite a contrast.  The passage we have from the Book of Maccabees describes the decline of religious belief among the people of Israel during the second century BC.  As it is presented, the cause of the decline is pressure from the neighboring Seleucid empire combined with poor leadership both by the corrupt King of Israel and the religious leaders.  Weak leadership combined with the desire of many of the people to be accepted by their powerful neighbor and to take on their Hellenistic values lead first to a decline in traditional Judaism and then to the persecution of those who wanted to follow the traditional Jewish laws and practices.  Our reading ends with the comment, “Terrible affliction was upon Israel.”

The Gospel for today narrates the encounter of Jesus with a blind man.  When he hears that Jesus is passing by he calls out to him asking for pity.  The disciples tell the blind man to be quiet so as not to disturb Jesus.  However, Jesus, upon hearing the blind man’s cry, asks him what he wants from him.  The blind man asks for sight.  Jesus, commenting on the blind man’s faith, heals him.

The contrast present in the readings is the darkening of Israel’s faith and the consequent affliction it brought about in the first reading and the light and vision restored in the encounter of Jesus with the blind man in the Gospel.

Most all of us want to be respected and thought well of by our friends and neighbors.  We also do our best to become prosperous.  The question put to us by today’s readings is “To whom do we look for guidance in achieving our good name and our prosperity?”  In the Book of Maccabees, so many of the people of Israel looked to outside forces and strange (Hellenistic) values to bolster themselves and their fortunes.  In the Gospel account we have today, the blind man looked with faith to Jesus.  One approach brought darkness, the other light.  Is there something here for us to ponder?

Fr. Michael Higgins, C.P. is the director of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center, Sierra Madre, California.

Scripture:

Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31
1 Thessalonians 5:1-6
Matthew 25:14-30

Reflection:

In the political climate in the U.S., it seems that being in the “middle” is deemed to be unsatisfactory. When we read books about family dynamics, being the “middle child,” seems to be fraught with its own challenges and problems. But as I reflect on the parable we hear in Sunday’s Gospel reading (Matthew 25:14-30), I find myself drawn to the servant in the “middle,” the one who was given two talents, between the one who was given five and the one who was given one.

In the parable, a man who is going on a journey entrusts his possessions to three servants. As was noted above, one received five talents; one received two, and one received one. When the master returns, the one who received five made another five; and the one who received two made another two; but the one who received one buried it in the ground.

A lot of the parable deals with the one who received the one talent and did nothing with it. I think he did that out of fear of what would happen if he lost it. Sometimes we are fearful of using all our talents. We can be afraid of making mistakes. Or we can be afraid of what other people might think of us. Or we can simply be afraid of not being up to the tasks to which we are called.

The reason I felt drawn to the middle servant is that he avoids a trap into which I have fallen many times in my life. What’s remarkable to me about him is that he does not seem to mind that the first servant got five talents, and he received “only” two. He simply works with what his master gives him and he uses it well. There are times when I can be envious of those who seem to be more talented than I. They either do what I do better than I, or they do many more things than I do equally well.

I think one of the hardest lessons I’ve learned is that acting out of fear, as the last servant did, or acting out of jealousy, as the middle servant could have done, is ultimately a form of being self-absorbed, because when I’m concerned about how I will look if I make a mistake, or when I compare myself to others, it becomes all about me. The middle servant does not do that! He doesn’t even seem to look down upon the last servant.

So, strange as it may seem, the middle servant is the one with whom I identify, and the one I believe I’m called to emulate. God has given me love and grace. God has given me gifts. At times, they may not seem to be as profound or as important or as numerous as the ones others may receive, but they are the ones given to me, and I am called to use them for the sake of the kingdom.

If we use our gifts the best we can in doing God’s will, we need not fear “the day of the Lord” spoken about in our second reading from 1 Thessalonians (5:1-6). We will indeed be “children of the light and children of the day.” We need not compare ourselves to others, but instead, like the “worthy wife” mentioned in Proverbs (31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31), we can live lives of service, reaching out to the poor and the needy.

May we not waste time in fear or envy, but use the gifts we have been given for the world God loves so much.

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P., is the local superior at St. Paul of the Cross Passionist Community in Detroit, Michigan. 

Scripture:

Wisdom 7:22b-8:1
Luke 17:20-25

Reflection:

November is the month which starts us off with the Feast of All Saints, followed by the Feast of All Souls.  This is a feast we can all look forward to because it is where our patron saints and hopefully ourselves and our family and friends will be praising God for all eternity.  However, I use to dread the thought of being among those who didn’t get to pass through the Gates of Heaven at the first try.  Not until I heard a statement about the Souls in Purgatory did my thinking change.  St. Catherine of Siena said that “No happiness is comparable to that of the Saints in Paradise except the happiness of the Souls in Purgatory!”

Peter Berger a Sociologist of Religion said that the purpose of religion is to help us answer the profoundest questions life can give us and that is “What is the purpose of death for the Christian? Karl Rahner, one if not the most profound theologian in the last century agrees with Berger and others that the most profound question we must answer with our life is “What is the meaning of death?”

Another theologian, Leonardo Boff, a Latin American theologian, asked the Dalai Lama “What is the best religion?”  Boff thought the Dalai Lama would say “Buddhism.”  But the Dalai Lama answered “The best religion is the one that gets you closer to God.  It is the one that makes you a better person. Whatever makes you more compassionate, more sensible, more detached, more loving, more humane, more responsible, more ethical.  The religion that will do that for you is the best religion.”

The Gospel of Luke would tell us if one embraces the message of Jesus we will be invited to sit at the eschatological banquet. It doesn’t matter if we live in the streets, the alleys, the highways, the hedgerows.    “Life is eternal, love is immortal and death is only an horizon into to the heart of the Trinity.

Fr. Ken O’Malley, C.P., is the local superior at Holy Name Passionist Community in Houston, Texas.

Scripture:

Wisdom 6:1-11
Luke 17:11-19

Reflection:

Faith is central to Christianity. It is a fundamental feature of the spiritual life. Yet faith is often misunderstood as an assent to doctrinal statements. When Jesus says to the Samaritan leper, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you,” he is not suggesting the mended man has embraced a creedal statement or a philosophical principle. The faith Jesus speaks of is a capacity to affirm life, not a capability to believe a dogma.

Capability refers to a potential aptitude, skill or ability; while capacity indicates the possibility of containing something. A machine has the capability of accomplishing a task; a pitcher has capacity to hold water. Capability may get something accomplished; capacity is availability to receive.

To suggest that faith is a capacity implies that a certain feature of emptiness is necessary if we are to receive Spirit in any of its forms – graces or healings. Emptiness always means empty of something. A cup is empty of coffee. The tank is empty of gas. When we are empty of the ego we are available to be filled with Spirit.

The egocentric ego is full of itself. When in its grip, we take our thoughts, our opinions, our desires, and our self so seriously. The inflated sense of self revels in its capability to achieve and be productive.

Stress reduction programs are not the answer this problem. Ego reduction courses would be much more effective. Then, moving though life with an open mind and an open heart, we would be available for the surprising encounters with Spirit.

Fr. Joe Mitchell, CP is the director of the Passionist Earth & Spirit Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

See his website: http://www.earthandspiritcenter.org/

Scripture:

Wisdom 2:23-3:9
Luke 17:7-10

Reflection:

My sister told me that when Dad knew he was dying, he looked at her and said, “Don’t forget me, OK?” The question might seem silly, as if any of his ten kids would ever forget their father. Yet I have seen it over and over again. Dying people want to know their life made a difference, had some meaning, touched someone, and left enough of a legacy to endure. Likewise, survivors of a loved one’s death are hungry to know that someone else remembers besides them, that their loved one’s absence leaves a void in the world and they will not be forgotten. There is a deep longing in the human soul to live on and to know our loved ones live on as well.

Scripture describes it best when it says that we were formed to be “imperishable” in the image of God’s own nature. Some theologians, in fact, argue that our deep-seated desire for immortality is evidence that we are indeed immortal, that there is life beyond our earthly tenure. However, it does not change the fact that we are anything but imperishable in this life.

In my work with grieving people, I have come to see how important it is to honor that desire for memory and legacy. I often use a quote from tribal tradition: “No one is ever truly dead from this earth until there is not a person left alive who speaks their name or tells their story.” Why, then, do we tell mourners to put it behind them and get on with life? Why do we talk about anyone and everyone except the person who died? Why do we literally avoid saying the name and telling the story? It is not what the grieving person wants. It is not what the deceased person deserves. But it sure does make it easier and more comfortable to avoid the topic.

In reality, we never “put it behind us and get on with life.” We have to let go of that person’s physical presence; we will not hear the laugh again, feel the hug, or see them in their favorite chair. But we heal by creating memories out of what can no longer be, and carrying them with us into the future. We carry the life, love, lessons, stories, and memories, knowing that we are different because this person lived and died.

If you want to support a grieving person, don’t be afraid to say the name and tell the stories. Call them on the person’s birthday. Take them for coffee and share stories about their loved one. (Yes, you can include the good and the bad. Recognize that we’re not perfect people; we’re just people doing the best we can with what we’ve got, and we all mess up). Send a card on some of the monthly anniversaries letting them know you’re thinking of them and remembering with them. Accompany them to an All Souls service. Deliver flowers or comfort food or a bottle of wine on the anniversary of the death. In big and small ways, help their loved one live on in memory and story.

It can seem counter-cultural in our society that wants to deny death and grief. Ignore society. Take the chance to love someone that well, to laugh and cry together, to help them heal, and to make a difference in another’s life. Be the face of Christ to them when they most need you.

Interestingly, the more you can do that, the more “imperishable” you become. You build a legacy of love and care that is more meaningful than any physical monument, accolade, or award, and people will remember you long after you are gone. And if we can all build that kind of legacy, who knows what might happen? I suspect we may bring about the kingdom of God on this earth.

 

Amy Florian is a teacher and consultant working in Chicago.  For many years she has partnered with the Passionists.  Visit Amy’s website: http://www.corgenius.com/.

Scripture:

Wisdom 1:1-7
Luke 17:1-6

Reflection:

“Lord, increase our faith….” Is such a profound request by the disciples following Jesus’ teaching, because to truly live out what he suggests demands that our faith be strengthened. Frankly, unless we can better understand the mystery that our lives are hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3), his teaching makes no sense. We are told that sin never leaves us in this life; just like the parable of the weeds among the wheat, sin is to accompany us until the day we see God as followers of Christ—as we discern how to act.

What I find very tricky is the idea that I am “to rebuke” my brother when he sins; this feels as if I’m sitting in judgement on him. Even more challenging can be the infinite opportunities to forgive. This—forgiveness—can actually be seen as weakness, especially in our current culture where strong words of retribution flood and contaminate the airwaves. At the very least this can keep us off balance. Further, we may fear our voice will be drowned out; maybe we risk being dropped from our group of friends. This was true when Luke wrote to his audience and remains true today. So why even bother? No wonder the disciples asked for an increase of faith!

“Faith is letting God be God in your life,” says Fr. Bruno DeSouza C.P. of Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center. It is an individual gift cultivated by prayer and surrender to God. It is knowing experientially that “the Spirit of the Lord fills the world and is all-embracing.” It is beholding all that is beautiful and tending to the holy in our midst as our first reading suggests. Letting go of all that contaminates our soul in these confusing times opens us up to savor the gift of life with thankful hearts; our Manna from heaven for today.

“Faith is stepping out into the unknown with nothing but a hand just beyond our grasp.” Fredrick Buechner

Faith helps us believe that God is present filling and embracing the whole world—somehow, someway—even as we witness acts of senseless violence and family discord. So, let us press on intentionally, to cultivate all that is true and pure in our hearts. Then we will know how to act in all situations by bringing the love of Christ to life. I believe what Christ is really saying here once again is to, “love one another.”

Lord Jesus, ignite in each of us the seed of love planted before the foundation of the world as we were formed in the silence of our mother’s womb.

May we set the world on fire with your love, today. Amen.

Jean Bowler is a retreatant at Mater Dolorosa Passionist Retreat Center in Sierra Madre, California, and a member of the Office of Mission Effectiveness Board of Holy Cross Province.

Scripture:

Wisdom 6:12-16
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 25:1-13

Reflection:

A meditation on the symbolism of “oil” in those lamps of ours, and the grace of wisdom.

 There are times when the act of making a sacrifice” is to allow yourself, or even make yourself, take “time” (actual minutes) to do what you will do in eternity! (hopefully). Taking time is so valuable, enriching, life-giving, and, “saving” (as in resuscitation/revival). However, like every faith act, there are no guarantees because we are surrendering to God the outcome of our wishes and desires. It is out of our control as to the answer to our prayers.

 Remember St. Paul’s words last weekend? “The Word is uplifted and for this reason we, too, give thanks to God unceasingly, that in receiving the Word of God from hearing us, you received not a human word but, as it truly is, the Word of God, which is now at work in you who believe.”

(1 Thess. 2:13) Yes, the key here is “you who believe.” No, I cannot rely on my own power here. But, oh my, if I can only act and let go. Remember faith is counter to anything in our world. Especially as regard “guaranteed results.”

First, dwell for a moment on the “energy” of wisdom. I define it as “grace with action.” Wisdom is not just something above the eyebrows, it moves us. Often we don’t realize till long after how something within caused us to act in an unexpected, but right, manner. It is not only the quality or state of being a wise person, it is the knowledge of what is true or right coupled with action upon our wisdom for other’s sake. Ponder the following as to what is said about her.

First, “she is readily perceived by those who love her.” Simply said, love is primarily “paying attention with care.” And, second, wisdom is found by those who deliberately ask or seek her. It does take your intention,  deliberate focus, for the Holy Spirit to fully engage with us. God’s love for us respects our free will. And, if you notice carefully, “in anticipation” means it takes a lot of “waiting,” but it is expectant, faith-filled waiting on the Lord.

All of this is said in order to “be prepared” on any given day, to be open to the Wisdom of the Spirit, for someone else’s sake. This gift of wisdom is a gift for others, not ourselves. That is why we are inspired with wisdom in the first place.

The oil in the parable of the foolish and wise virgins symbolizes our readiness for God’s grace today, just today. The oil could not be transferred to the foolish virgins because one cannot pass on to another the capability of “readiness.” Grace, wisdom teach us how to be ready. And because we are missionary disciples, sent by God to others, we assume trust, and anticipate that we will be prepared for whomever God sends on our path.The daily tasks necessary to prepare ourselves for doing something with the wisdom we receive through – prayer, acts of forgiveness and generosity, trust in providence.  These are comparable to the minor sacrifices and inconveniences of the wise virgins.

None of this “makes sense” until later, sometimes much later as to how you responded to or got through a critical, and personal situation where you trusted that God would come through with you lovingly acting, acting towards others with care, overcoming inconvenience and fear. Be wise through Christ.

Fr. Alex Steinmiller, C.P., is the administrator at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Birmingham, Alabama.