November 21, 2019

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Mt 12: 46-50

While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

Offer our whole self to God

Today we remember the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when her parents Joachim and Anne brought Mary to the Temple in Jerusalem. They hadn’t expected to have children, so in thanksgiving for this gift, they offered her back to be consecrated to the Lord, to belong to him. This offering and belonging is echoed in the Gospel. Jesus’ “mother and brothers” come to him, and he explains what it takes to belong to him, as Mary does: “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Let us imitate this today. First, we experience the whole day as a gift from God. Then, in gratitude, we generously offer it back to him, to be used for his purpose. What does it take to consecrate our day? Using it to do “the will of [our] Father in heaven.” What is God asking you today?

—Beau Guedry is a former Alum Service Corps volunteer who now teaches science and coordinates liturgy at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School in Houston. 

Prayer

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

—Suscipe of St. Ignatius of Loyola