God’s most faithful servant is His mother and our own
Reflections on the readings for the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Ordinary Time (November 21, 2018): RV 4:1-11; PS 150:1-2,3-4,5-6; LK 19:11-28
MISSIO offers “Mission In Scripture” to nurture a missionary heart, providing reflections on the missionary themes in the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
In the Gospel for this day celebrating the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we hear Jesus tell a parable.
He describes how necessary it is for His followers to be loyal to Him, to use their God-given gifts and to be courageous to following the will of the Father. “Well done, good servant! You have been faithful.… I tell you, to everyone who has, more will be given, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Luke 19:17, 26). The most faithful servant of the Almighty is Mary. She became the Mother of God, because she was first the handmaid of the Lord, as she called herself at the Annunciation. She had already given herself over to living for the Lord without reserve. She held nothing back. So the Son of God is just as truly her Son, too.
Mary’s whole life was filled with God’s grace, focused on His will, and inflamed with His love. We, too, can dedicate ourselves to serving our Lord and embracing His generous mercy. Let us ask our Savior’s mother and ours to help us belong to Him each and every day.
Suggested missionary action: We can ask Mary to guide all God’s little ones. And we can honor her by teaching the young people we know how to say the World Mission Rosary on behalf of children around the globe.