The Entrance into the Temple of our Most Holy Lady, the Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary.
Feast of the Mother of God. Nativity Fast. Holy Day of Obligation.
Hebrews 9:1-7; Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28.
Read Luke 10:38-42, 11:27-28
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
There is a subtle but significant parallel between today’s gospel and the feast of Mary’s entrance into the Temple. In the gospel, Jesus is welcomed into the home of Mary and Martha, while in the feast, Mary is welcomed into the temple. God makes a place for Mary, just as Mary and Martha make a place for Jesus. Now, someone might point out that the point of Mary’s entrance into the Temple is actually that God is making her into a temple for Jesus. And to that, we can respond – exactly! We must appreciate that our efforts to make a home for God will be futile unless He is involved, unless He is actually making a home for us, and thereby making us into a home for Himself. As it says in Psalm 126 (or 127 in a Hebrew Bible), “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”
God wants to make us into a dwelling place for Him, for His Holy Spirit – though, paradoxically, He expects us to cooperate with this effort. At the same time, He wants to make a home for us in His Kingdom. Jesus comes into the house in Bethany but ends up acting as the host, since only he can provide the one thing needful; Mary comes into the Temple so that her role as the fulfillment of the Temple can be revealed. In the same way, God calls us to make a home for Him in our lives, our homes, our hearts, so that His power as the true builder, the true and life-giving host, might be revealed.
Bible References