Today, we celebrate the liturgical Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is known in the Eastern Churches as the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos (Mother of God) into the Temple. This feast is not associated with any events recounted in the gospels but rather with another text known as the Protoevangelium of James.
According to the text, Mary's parents were childless but received a message from heaven announcing the coming of their child. In thanksgiving for the birth of their daughter, while she was still very young, they brought her to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.
The Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians says this: ... as long as a designated heir is not of age, his condition is no different from that of a slave, even though in name he is master of all his possessions; for he is under the supervision of guardians and administrators until the time set by his father. In the same way, while we were not yet of age, we were like slaves subordinated to the elements of the world; but when the designated time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman ... to deliver from the law those who were subjected to it, so that we might receive our status as adopted sons (Gal 4:1-5).
As we celebrate Mary's feast today, let us ask her to intercede for us so that we may be re-awakened to the truth of our spiritual childhood. We are heirs to a blessed promise that is yet to be fulfilled.
Have a great day.
Fr. Tony
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