REFLECTIONS TODAY
Today’s feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Mother invites us to contemplate her life of being consecrated to God, a life dedicated to the mission that God had in store for her. In her childhood, her parents presented and consecrated her to God, she who was conceived without the stain of original sin, thus continuing the sanctifying act of God in her life.
She is the daughter of Zion prepared since childhood to play a major role in the saving plan of God on behalf of his people. While as Christians we do not formally celebrate this event, every mother who gives birth to her child successfully, whether she verbalizes it or not, “consecrates” her child to God and asks him to bless her son or daughter.
Formally, at Baptism, we are consecrated to God in our being marked with the sign of the Holy Trinity as we are cleansed of our original sin and receive the status of son or daughter of God and a Christian, follower of Jesus. Being a Christian is a privilege to mirror the image of Christ and continue his saving and loving presence in the world. May we consecrate our lives to God, living for him alone.
First Reading • Rv 5:1-10 [or Zec 2:14-17]
I, John, saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a mighty angel who proclaimed in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to examine it. I shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to examine it.
One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals.”
Then I saw standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and the elders a Lamb that seemed to have been slain. He had seven horns and seven eyes; these are the seven spirits of God sent out into the whole world.
He came and received the scroll from the right hand of the one who sat on the throne. When he took it, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of the elders held a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the holy ones. They sang a new hymn:
“Worthy are you to receive the scroll and break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”
Gospel • Lk 19:41-44 [or Mt 12:46-50]
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.”
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.