< <  

Saturday, November 21, 2015

  > >

Presentation of Mary


1 Maccabees 6:1-13
Psalm 9:2-4, 6, 16, 19
Luke 20:27-40

View Readings
Similar Reflections

our unworthiness in his worthiness

"The children of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those judged worthy of a place in the age to come and of resurrection from the dead do not." —Luke 20:34-35

Will you be "judged worthy of a place in the age to come and of resurrection from the dead"? (Lk 20:35) Is there anything you have done or can do which makes you worthy to be raised from the dead? Obviously, no one is worthy to be raised from the dead except Jesus, the Lamb of God, the Resurrection and the Life (Jn 11:25). All the angels cry out at God's throne: "Worthy is the Lamb That was slain to receive power and riches, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and praise!" (Rv 5:12)

We have no righteousness and worthiness of our own (Phil 3:9). However, we have been baptized into Christ (Rm 6:3), and in Jesus we are in His worthiness and will be judged worthy of resurrection from the dead and eternal life. The Church has taught us to pray when we receive Holy Communion that we are not worthy to have Jesus come under our roof (see Mt 8:8). We will never be worthy to receive Jesus. Nevertheless, when we receive Him and are in Him (Jn 6:56), we renew our baptismal covenant with Him and in our unworthiness, we receive worthiness.

"Who is worthy?" (Rv 5:2) "O Lord our God, You are worthy" (Rv 4:11). "Worthy is the Lamb" (Rv 5:12).

Prayer:  Jesus, the slain Lamb of God, "the Resurrection and the Life," my Savior, my Lord, my God, my Worthiness...

Promise:  "Moses in the passage about the bush showed that the dead rise again when he called the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead but of the living. All are alive for Him." —Lk 20:37-38

Praise:  Sts. Ann and Joachim believed that God would work His plan through their daughter. They expressed their belief by presenting their daughter Mary to be raised in the Temple at the age of three.

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 20, 2015

The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.