The Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple.
“At that time, Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town.
"Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.
"So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way.
"When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.”
"And Zacchaeus came down quickly and received him with joy.
"When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.”
"But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”
"And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” (Luke 19: 1 - 10).
Listen to what Zacchaeus says:
"But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.”
What a testimony of genuine conversion.
Taking a cue from the conversion of Zacchaeus, the Church teaches:
"Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."......... It is by faith in the Gospel and by Baptism that one renounces evil and gains salvation, that is, the forgiveness of all sins and the gift of new life." (CCC 1427).
Tuesday November 21st, the Church celebrates the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple.
Here is what the Church teaches on the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary:
"Mary, the all-holy ever-virgin Mother of God, is the masterwork of the mission of the Son and the Spirit in the fullness of time. For the first time in the plan of salvation and because his Spirit had prepared her, the Father found the dwelling place where his Son and his Spirit could dwell among men. In this sense the Church's Tradition has often read the most beautiful texts on wisdom in relation to Mary. Mary is acclaimed and represented in the liturgy as the "Seat of Wisdom."
In her, the "wonders of God" that the Spirit was to fulfill in Christ and the Church began to be manifested." (CCC 721).
Tradition holds that Mary was presented by her parents, Joachim and Anne in the Temple at a very early age where she was educated by the priests and prepared for her life work.
November is the Month we pray for the Souls in PURGATORY.
“If, during life, we have been kind to the suffering souls in purgatory, God will see that help be not denied us after death.” (St Paul of the Cross).
For Catholic Church teaching on the Souls in PURGATORY and how to help them, click the link below:
http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/10/10-ways-to-assist-poor-souls-in.html
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23-Psalm1to2