WE REMEMBER THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY IN THE TEMPLE.
THE MEMORIAL OF THE PRESENTATION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY.
"As Jesus drew near Jerusalem, he saw the city and wept over it, saying,
“If this day you only knew what makes for peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
"For the days are coming upon you when your enemies will raise a palisade against you; they will encircle you and hem you in on all sides. They will smash you to the ground and your children within you, and they will not leave one stone upon another within you because you did not recognize the time of your visitation.” (Luke 19: 41 - 44).
Thursday 21st November 2024, in the 33rd Week in Ordinary Time.
The Church celebrates today 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 in the Temple at a very early age where she was educated by the priests and prepared for her life work.
In our key Scripture from Luke 19, Jesus wept over Jerusalem for two reasons:
#1. Jerusalem failed to recognize the time of the visitation of her long awaited Messiah.
#2. Jerusalem thirsted desperately for peace but the people are totally ignorant of what makes for peace.
These two conditions apply to our world today. As we near the end of the Church Year, we are served more and more with Scriptures of the End Times.
Jesus wept for Jerusalem because they did not recognize what makes for peace.
Do we recognize what makes for peace?
Jesus the Prince of Peace knows what makes for peace. He is in truth our peace.
Romans 12: 2 shows us the secret of peace.
"Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect." Conforming our thoughts, words and actions to the will of God is exactly what makes for peace.
The prophecy of Jesus in this Gospel was literally fulfilled in AD 70 when Jerusalem was destroyed by Emperor Titus.
This Gospel will be heard today by Catholics in America, Brazil, Europe, Africa, Australia, Israel, Palestine, Ukraine and Gaza.
"For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy [His life and teaching are the heart of prophecy].” (Revelations 19: 10 AMP).
The life and words of Jesus Christ is the spirit of prophecy. We see with our own eyes on television this prophecy executed today.
Father, in Your will is our peace!
"I bless you and I bless those whom you entrust to the mercy of My open Heart. The light of My Face shines upon you. Believe in My love for you. I will never abandon you, never disappoint you. My plans are for your happiness, for your holiness, for your peace. Have no fear. I will do for you all that I have promised, and your heart will rejoice, and you will praise and glorify Me forever." (IN SINU JESU, Wednesday, December 19, 2007).
The month of November is traditionally dedicated in the Catholic Church to honoring the dead and relieving the sufferings of 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:
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