Readings: 1 Maccabees 4:36-37,52-59, 1 Chronicles 29:10-12, Luke 19:45-48
“Then said Judas and his brothers, ‘Behold, our enemies are crushed; let us go up to cleanse the sanctuary and dedicate it.’ So, all the army assembled, and they went up to Mount Zion.” (1 Maccabees 4:36-37)
Anyone who strives for truth, righteousness, and holiness always prevails. The victory of Judas and his brothers over the evil king Antiochus demonstrates God’s powerful support when we stand for Him. “Who can battle with the Lord? Who can battle with the Lord? I say nobody. I say nobody.” The book of Proverbs 18:10 states: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run to it, and they are safe.”
When it comes to fighting, King David is a prime example of a man who fought wars and defeated giants even in his childhood. David revealed his secret in 2 Samuel 22:2-4 when he said: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation. He is my stronghold, refuge, and saviour – from violent men, you save me. I call on the Lord, who is worthy of praise. And I am saved from my enemies.”
However, we cannot combat the enemy outside unless we confront the enemy within. According to Sir Thomas Browne in his book “Religio Medici” written in 1639, “Every man is his own greatest enemy, and as it were his executioner.” The first battle we must fight is the battle within us: the fight against sin.
In our Gospel passage, Jesus entered the Temple and drove out those who had turned it into a marketplace. The state of the temple directly reflected the condition of the temples within their hearts. They had driven God out and replaced Him with money. The external cleansing served as a reminder that their bodies are also temples and that they had neglected God for too long. What efforts do I make daily to cleanse my heart and ensure that God remains at the centre of my life?
If you are not fired up like Eleazer, the seven brothers and their mother, Matatthaias, or Judas and his brothers, or even like Jesus (who cleansed the temple), then something is seriously wrong. Fight for morality, fight for truth, fight for justice, fight for the Christian faith.
The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple honours the day, as described in non-canonical gospels, when Mary was taken to the Jerusalem temple as a young child to dedicate her to God. Instead of concentrating only on the historical aspect—which the official Gospels do not mention—the Church emphasises Mary’s complete devotion and her attentive listening, reflecting the scripture: “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28). This moment helped prepare Mary of Nazareth to become the “temple of the Son of God.”
This feast began in the 6th century within the Eastern Church, marked by Emperor Justinian I’s founding of the Basilica of Saint Mary the New near the ruins of the Jerusalem temple. Records show that by the 9th century, various monasteries in Italy were celebrating this feast. It was only in the 15th century that the Memorial was officially included in the Roman Missal. Furthermore, this day is observed by the Church as the World Day of Cloistered Life, a tradition established by Pope Pius XII in 1953.
Let us pray: As we venerate the glorious memory of the most holy Virgin Mary, grant, we pray, O Lord, through her intercession, that we, too, may merit to receive from the fullness of your grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Liturgical Colour: White. Bible Study: 1 Maccabees 4:36-37,52-59, 1 Chronicles 29:10-12, Luke 19:45-48)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu