Memorial of the Presentation of

the Blessed Virgin Mary

“… but the men and women who are worthy to rise from death and live in the age to come will not then marry. They will be like angels and can not die.” – Luke 20:35-36

       I remember my youngest son’s seventh birthday. Usually, kids of this generation would want the latest gadgets and toys, but I was stunned with his reply when I asked what his wish was. He said, “I wish that I will continue to have fear of the Lord, Ma.”

       “If I have fear of the Lord, I will be afraid to commit sin because God will not be pleased and happy with that,” he said.

       Holiness is a call God places on all of our lives. It is not only about God’s desire for us but also what we do to be able to achieve it — by living it out. Eventually, it will prepare us to a life where there will be no more death.

       Jesus points out that there is no continuity between the present worldly life and that of God’s Kingdom. Those deemed worthy of heaven will be like angels immortal — freed from the exclusiveness and jealousy which characterize worldly relationships. There will definitely be love, but it will be the love of God’s children purified of the imperfections of our sinful world. Rea Lourdes P. Santos (rearaquelsantos@yahoo.com )

Reflection: How do you live your life, knowing how God loves you and wants to be with you in the world to come?

Lord, may I have the courage and strength to live every day according to Your most holy will.

St. Gelasius, pray for us.

This prophecy in the Book of Zechariah looks forward to the coming of the Messiah. The coming of many different nations to Jerusalem will mark this time. It prophesies that the Messiah will usher in a new understanding of faith, that it will also be available to the Gentiles. Today we see the partial fulfillment of the prophecy. We wait for the time when all people will bow their knee at Jesus in His second coming. Let us make the Gospel known to as many people as possible.

Zechariah 2:14-17 (or 1 Maccabees 6:1-13)

14 Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! See, I am coming to dwell among you, says the Lord. 15 Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they shall be his people, and he will dwell among you, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 16 The Lord will possess Judah as his portion of the holy land, and he will again choose Jerusalem. 17 Silence, all mankind, in the presence of the Lord! He stirs forth from his holy dwelling.

Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55 (or Psalm 9:2-3, 4, 6, 16, 19)

R: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

46 “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.” (R) 48 “For he has looked upon his lowly servant; from this day all generations will call me blessed: 49 the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.” (R) 50 “He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. 51 He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.” (R) 52 “He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. 53 He has filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he has sent away empty.” (R) 54 He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, 55 the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.” (R)

Jesus asserts that for faith to be true to itself, it must be lived out in our daily lives. Without this, Christians will be accused of hypocrisy. We must live out the demands of our faith to the fullest. This is done first in our relationships with others. No one is more or less important than someone else.

Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.

Matthew 12:46-50 (or Luke 20:27-40)

46 While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” 48 But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” 49 And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

think: We must live out the demands of our faith to the fullest.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Jeremiah 47-49

THE HEAVENLY MARRIAGE

St. John Paul II’s teaching in his profound Theology of the Body proposes the reason why God created marriage and the husband-and-wife relationship: The earthly marriage is a mirror on earth, a reminder for the earthly couple of the heavenly marriage to which all of humanity is called. According to St. John Paul II, marriage is a sacrament because the marriage of the first Adam and the first Eve is a presentiment of the ultimate marriage between the New Adam (the Risen Christ) and the New Eve (all of humanity). God’s plan is to “marry” us, to invite us to partake most intimately in the Divine life. This is why the Bible (in Genesis) begins with the earthly marriage and ends with the heavenly marriage (in Revelation) of God and humanity.

       The Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection, presented to Jesus in today’s Gospel a scenario of a woman who successively married seven brothers after they died one after the other. They asked Jesus as to whose wife she will be in the resurrection. In response, Jesus said, “…the people of this age marry and are given in marriage… in heaven… they no longer marry nor are given in marriage” (verses 34-35). This is not to denigrate marriage. It is only to point out that, in heaven, the purpose of earthly marriage will have been completed. Author and Theology of the Body proponent Christopher West said it beautifully: “In heaven marriage will not be deleted. It will be completed.”

       Far from being contradictory, marriage and celibacy actually complement one another.

       To the married people reading this: Is this how you understand your marriage? Do you see that your task is to bring your spouse and each and every member of your family to Heaven?

       To the celibate people reading this: Is this how you see your celibacy? Celibacy is an exaltation of the sacred end of marriage and a sign as well on earth, of the heavenly marriage, which is humanity’s ultimate fulfillment. Fr. Joel Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION: Make God an active partner in your marriage. It takes three, not two, to get married: you, your spouse and God.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, draw all families to the family of all of God’s children. Amen.