Gospel
Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother. Now there were seven brothers; the first married a woman but died childless. Then the second and the third married her, and likewise all the seven died childless. Finally the woman also died. Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be? For all seven had been married to her.” Jesus said to them, “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die, for they are like angels; and they are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” Some of the scribes said in reply, “Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything.
REFLECTION:
“Teacher, you have answered well.” And they no longer dared to ask him anything.”
The Sadducees were asking God a question they believed had no answer. They did not believe in the resurrection, so why would the afterlife matter to them? In their attempt to outwit Jesus, they found themselves at a loss for words. God’s answer reveals the true nature of life as he deems and that their beliefs do not align with the God of Abraham.
Some beliefs held by the Catholic Church stem from traditions passed on for generations. These common beliefs were so well known and held a special spiritual place in the church, that they are sometimes made into feast days. Today’s feast is one of these. The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary recognizes the traditional belief that Mary was presented to the temple by Saint Joachim and Saint Anne at a very young age. Her presentation was the beginning of her life growing up in the temple and where she dedicated her virginity to the Lord. It is said she remained at the temple until the priest chose her to be betrothed to Joseph.
The Presentation of Mary and the Lord’s Presentation, on February 2nd, closely tie the lives of our Mother and her Son, our Savior. This feast is very significant in recognizing Mary’s dedication to God and how she served him all her life. She is created by God to fulfill her role in the church to lead us to Christ. Let us ask our Mother for her loving guidance, so that we may keep our eyes on Jesus and not be lost for words in our Catholic belief.
