It's likely that Mary, Our Lady of Presentation, knew the story of the Jewish mother and her seven martyred sons (2 Mc 7:1-41). Note the similarities between these two heroic mothers:
It's easy to picture Mary encouraging her crucified Son with these words of this Jewish mother as she watched from the foot of His cross: "I do not know how You came into existence in my womb; it was not I who gave you the breath of life...[The Lord,] in His mercy, will give You back both breath and life, because You now disregard Yourself for the sake of God" (2 Mc 7:22-23).
Jesus has charged Mary with being our mother (Jn 19:26). She who was presented to the Lord in the Temple now presents us unfailingly to God in prayer with her motherly love. The Lord uses Mary to transmit great faith to her children in time of trial. Satisfy Jesus' thirst (Jn 19:28). Receive Mary's help.
| PRAYER: | Jesus, in giving Mary as my mother (Jn 19:26), You gave me more than a great sum of money (Lk 19:13). I will embrace and use this gift so as to bear the return You expect. |
| PROMISE: | "Whoever has will be given more, but the one who has not will lose the little he has." –Lk 19:26 |
| PRAISE: | Mary, Our Lady of Presentation, "trusted that the Lord's words to her would be fulfilled" (Lk 1:45). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College