Meditating on the Mysteries: The Presentation
by Emily | Catholic Poster Girl
“When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, …and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, ‘a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.’ …Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him….Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother, Mary… ‘and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’” (Lk: 2: 22, 24, 25, 35, NRSV version)
The Presentation is a perplexing mystery. Not so much in what it is, because that’s fairly simple. After Jesus’ birth, his parents take him to the Temple to be presented to God. They are following the Jewish customs, even though Jesus is the Son of God, and has no need of presentation, or Mary of ritual purification, which she also received at this time. They are both perfect. But they also follow God’s law to the letter, and do the things he has commanded. They bring two turtle doves, the offering of the poor.
In the Temple, strange things happen. Two old people–one man and one woman–appear. They come to see the sight they have wanted to see for so long: the Son of God, the Messiah, in their midst.
“Now, Lord” cries Simeon, “you may let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled. Mine eyes have seen the salvation of your people Israel.”
But he says something else, something troubling: A sword will pierce Mary’s heart. Sorrow will come upon this young mother, and this perfect child. Remember that Mary is a young woman, still a teenager. She doesn’t know the plan that is before her. She doesn’t know what God is going to ask of her, and of her Son. She might have an idea, because she is versed in Scripture; she knows what the prophecy of the Messiah says. But there’s not a road map there, there are few specifics. Most of it is couched in poetic, prophetic language.
Imagine you’re Mary, holding that little baby in your arms. Jesus is a little more than a month old. He’s asleep there, maybe sucking his thumb. His skin is soft and so perfect. There are ten little fingernails, and his hands are so tiny. You love this child more than your own life.
Your happiness is tainted by this man’s pronouncement. What can he mean? Joseph doesn’t understand, either. Certainly, Mary “pondered this in her heart,” as Luke tells us. And also, surely, she had faith. Faith that God, who had taken her this far, wouldn’t let her or her son fall. They had to trust in His plan–in the Divine plan–and keep moving forward.
An angel would warn Joseph to take them to the safety of Egypt, where they knew no one. They had to trust in God’s word. And a few years later, the same angel would call them back to their home country. Their lives, from the beginning, were not the calm, ordered ones of their neighbors and friends.
I like plans. I like to know what’s going to happen, and when. I have a certain amount of flexibility built into my life; I never know what part of my body is going to go on strike next and demand that I drop everything to fix it. So I make plans, while knowing that they could be changed because of events outside my control. To me, ER runs and unexpected tests are normal. A bit challenging, but normal.
I imagine Mary’s life was a bit like that. She never really knew what was going to happen next. Jesus wasn’t any other child. She was raising God in her house! I think that would present a formidable challenge to even the best parents. But she had faith that God had chosen her and Joseph for this task. She didn’t know what was ahead, but at the moment, she didn’t need to know.
Later in his life, the babe-in-arms would admonish us to not worry about tomorrow, but instead focus on today. I can imagine him learning this lesson from his parents, who knew that today often brought its own surprises. Mary knew to always place her faith in God, even when she didn’t quite understand what He was doing (as we’ll see in the next mystery).
In this new year, and during the Year of Faith, let’s ask Mary to help us do the same: to trust, even when we can’t see the way; to believe, even when we don’t know why.
December 22
December 22
Christ as Rex Gentium (King of All Nations)
Isaiah 9:7 Isaiah 2:4
Three more days. Are you ready? Does it seem like Christmas is so close or does it seem like it’s still a ways out? How about 80 miles away? 80 miles is the distance between Nazareth and Bethlehem.
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirin’i-us was governor of Syria. And all went to be enrolled, each to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
†Luke 2:1-5
Do we have somewhere–maybe closer than 80 miles or maybe farther–that we need to travel this Christmas?
Do we need to walk down the hall, take a left in the first open door and spend some quiet time with a little one who has been hustled and bustled until their little heart almost broke and their temper did?
How about the distance between grown siblings? Hurt feeling, harsh words and plain old misunderstandings can create a chasm greater than 80 miles wide and 80 miles deep. Is the crevasse filled with sour memories and more time than we know how to make up for? One step…one call…one generic Christmas card could make all the difference in the world.
When we crawl in bed at night, what’s the mathematical equation to find the area between us and our husband? Him hanging off the right side + me hanging off the left = a span of separation not only physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. What would happen if we just reached out yonder, across crumpled sheets and through flannel pajamas and touched his arm as we fell asleep? Would that be the first step to help fill that void?
Does God the Father seem so far out there, way past the tiniest of stars we stare up at each night, wondering where He is and not really caring what the answer may be because we don’t feel like he’s near us. As the animated character Buzz Light-Year would say, “To infinity and beyond!” Is that where God seems right now? Beyond.
Do you know how much you are wanted and loved? God loves you and wants you sweet sister in Christ. He longs, LONGS, to be near you. So much so, He makes Himself available all the time, 24/7, 365, on too many altars to count and way more churches to name and number.
That noisy child following you around, he longs to be near you. That’s why he sticks so close. If he were a toddler, he cold be unrolling the toilet paper roll. If he were a young boy, he could be hidden in some secret fort out back. If he were a teen, he could be gone…just gone…period. Instead he’s around, maybe bugging you, but around none the less.
Those families ties stretched to the breaking point and beyond. There may be hope. And if there is no hope, and in some families there is not, there is prayer. Whether you see them or not, you must pray for them. Fill that hole with prayer and all will be well someday, maybe not until heaven, but all will be well.
The man you share that expanse of bed with, if he does not long for you…ache for him. Yes, ache.
ache
verb (used without object)
1.
to have or suffer a continuous, dull pain: His whole body ached.
2.
to feel great sympathy, pity, or the like: Her heart ached for the starving animals.
3.
to feel eager; yearn; long: She ached to be the champion. He’s just aching to get even.
Ache for your man, ache for your marriage. God promises to make all things new and let Him start with you.
The baby Jesus is coming to be the King of all nations and everyone knows a good king restores and unifies…families, marriages, hearts…all things.
Book Club::The Imitation of Christ
Thanksgiving is only one day away and naturally my thoughts turn to my many blessings. One of my greatest blessings is my gift of faith. And the bow on that perfect gift from my heavenly Father…His priests.
When a priest doth celebrate, he honoreth God, he rejoiceth the angels, he edifieth the Church, he helpeth the living, he obtaineth rest for the departed, and maketh himself partaker of all good things.
The Imitation of Christ
I made something for you…Holy Card with St Therese the Little Flower’s Prayer for Priests
We should ever be thankful for the line of Apostolic successors who daily offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for us.
And in thanksgiving, I offer myself, as the disciple in chapter IX
O Lord, in the simplicity of my heart I offer myself unto Thee this day in humble submission for a sacrifice of perpetual praise and to be Thy servant forever.
The Imitation of Christ
You know what words struck me as I read that offering? Of course you do, the ones I italicized–perpetual praise.
How much different would my daily life look if I lived each day like I do the fourth Thursday of November? If I lived anticipating each day set aside to offer thanksgiving, enjoy family and friends and put deliberate thought into every action from cleaning the house to making and serving the meal?
If I lived 365 days of thanksgiving, I would be in effect living perpetual praise.
The Psalmist new this life of praise and thanksgiving walked hand in hand…Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. †Psalm 100:4
In addition to discussing The Imitation of Christ
{Holy card picture courtesy of my friend Martin at Defensio Fidei}
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Moments of Gratitude
::pizza party after Mass
::Chris taking our children hunting
::time spent with their grandpa and uncles while at the hunting land
Beauty in the Ordinary
First one of my daughters, then Leo, then my oldest daughter and I, then my youngest daughter and another son and now my second oldest daughter have been hit with a cold. That does not make for much beauty in the ordinary.
From the Kitchen
See those legs? Those chubby legs belong to one, Leo the Great, who shared his cold germs with me over the weekend. So, over the weekend, I made a garlic soup to help fight this awful cold. This garlic soup is really good and both my oldest daughter and I agreed that right after eating the soup, we felt better and the next morning, even better.
Cold Coming On Soup –>Tweet this
Servings: 2 {Provided by: In Pursuit of Garlic: An Intimate Look at the Divinely Odorous Bulb
Ingredients
13 cloves garlic, peeled
2 cups chicken stock (or beef or vegetable, but chicken fights colds)
2 thick slices crusty bread
grated Gruyère or cheddar cheese
Directions
1.Simmer garlic in stock for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender. Blend with an immersion blender.
2.Place 1 slice of bread into each bowl and sprinkle with cheese. Pour hot soup overtop.
3.Wrap yourself in a blanket, hold a bowl of soup close to your mouth so that you can inhale the vapours, and spoon it in!
Note: Halve ingredients to serve 1. The general rule is 6 cloves of garlic for each cup of stock, plus 1 for the pot.
Praying
One of my daily prayers is that Chris will continue to grow and mature into the strong spiritual head of our family.
Pondering
Chris and I ran into a lady we used to know about 20 years ago. She just could not get over our life now. So I’ve been thinking, you just never know…20 years ago, Chris and I were just a couple of very weak practicing Catholic kids and now we’re not. 20 years ago he may have been considered a little rowdy and kind of a punk and me, just a boy crazy flirt…and now we’re not. All that to say…you just never know the life God has planned out for you, or your children or anyone you happen across in your daily life.
Meditating
God’s steadfast love. This year, as I’ve been going through my Bible, when I come across the mention of God’s Love for me, I draw a little red heart next to the verse. Look at all those little red hearts on one page!
Reading
The Imitation of Christ
Holy Bible: Revised Standard Version, Large Print
A Woman After God’s Own Heart®
Memorizing
Magnificat
Catholic Women Bloggers to Encourage
Meg–Offering it Up
Liana–Working to be Worthy
Rebekah–A Light to the Nations
Susanna–Mission:Possible
Moments of Grace
Well…let’s see…
We lost the election…while others claim victory.
We need rain…while others have had their homes washed away by too much.
I am uninspired to cook…yet my people keep wanting to be fed.
Grocery prices keep going up…yet my people keep wanting to be fed.
The baby and I share the same thighs and belly right now, which is cute on him…not so much on me.
But there is grace because there is God. <–Tweet this
A God Who is the source of my joy
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
†Romans 15:13
A God Who promises to speak peace to His people
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
†Psalm 85:8
A God Who is good and Whose love will last forever
O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.
Psalm 107:1
A God Who is compassionate
For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
†Isaiah 54:10
Come on ladies, share your Moments of Grace. Show us the way God–the compassionate God, the loving God, the peaceful God, the joyful and the forever God–revealed Himself to you this week.
Meditations on the Mysteries: The Visitation and Faith
Emily|Catholic Poster Girl
(Author note: During the Year of Faith, I’ll be writing about each of the mysteries of the rosary within the light of Faith. Last column was about The Annunciation.)
In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. (Lk. 2: 39)
The Visitation is a celebration of faith: faith that what the Lord said to both these women would be accomplished, would actually happen. Here is Mary, pregnant with the Son of God via the Holy Spirit. Here is Elizabeth, pregnant in her old age, the desire of her heart finally fulfilled. The idea of his wife being pregnant was so outrageous to Zechariah that he was struck dumb by the Angel Gabriel until John was born (Lk. 1:18-20). Here is faith rewarded in a visible, and yes, outrageous, way.
I’ve always liked this mystery because of the closeness of the two cousins. I’ve got a lot of cousins—22 on my mom’s side alone (not counting my siblings and I). And of those, I’m second in line. So I have a lot of younger cousins, and fortunately we’re close with one another. I hope I’ll always be able to offer the hospitality and love Elizabeth so clearly shows Mary. We can forget—Mary was a teenager, and a young one at that. Was she nervous about being pregnant? Was she scared about Joseph’s reaction? Did she know how to take care of a baby? Elizabeth, during the months Mary was with her, could have soothed her fears and shared what she knew. There’s faith that everything will be all right, but there is also the practical preparation, which is equally crucial.
Mary and Elizabeth created their own community of faith, and it’s something we can do, too. Are there other women around us who could use support, help, or just a listening ear? Can we be like Elizabeth and embrace them, welcome them, and share our knowledge with them? I am usually the youngest woman in a group at church, and some older women are very welcoming, which I love and appreciate. These women are so special to me, and helpful as I work out my vocation. I see them as an example I can emulate on how to be a holy, Catholic woman in my state of life.
In these uncertain times, it can be hard to have faith. Let’s use Mary and Elizabeth as our example of trusting in God and His will, even when it can seem impossible, outrageous or just plain strange.
Glass to God
Cynthia | The Mad-Eyed Monk
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Philippians 4:8
Washing windows to see out better; to observe the sauntering coming in of Autumn; jeweled gowns dragging the fields and woods; God’s palette spinning.
What anticipation of so many changes and transformations already in this continuous dramatic flux.
To leaf out in Christ and turn the royal hues in Him; to let fall our selves into the brightening air; onto the ground of dying to live.
One leaf blazing is a marvel enough, then an entire tree thinking itself gold, spilling coins of light across the descending myriad.
As if one wasn’t breaking my heart into a wide open sky: then the geese fly through, unexpectedly in their processional fanfare, their songs from the north filling the dusky air–
the gathering cold.
Catholic Woman’s Almanac {CWA}
Moments of Gratitude
::An All Saints Homeschool party
::Veronica making chocolate chip cookie bars
::a yummy new recipe, Cilantro Lime Rice
::the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
::a faithful Catholic community who have grown up together, reuniting
::hugs, handshakes and games of tag before Mass
::the Men’s Schola singing at Mass
Beauty in the Ordinary
Chris installed a door rack on my closet door to put Leo’s clothes and some of my own. Is anyone else, other than LuAnne, on a cleaning kick? I feel like we have too much and it’s dusty or needs to be arranged or given away or something. I try to be on a cleaning kick, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak and interrupted by a sweet chubby baby who needs to be cuddled and nursed and smiled at.
Praying
November is traditionally set aside in the Church to remember the Poor Souls in Purgatory. Here is a prayer I found that we could pray daily for the poor souls. I’m going to pray one prayer a day, not the whole big prayer everyday. This way I have a prayer for each day of the week:
Day 1
Lord, Almighty God, through the Sacred Blood which Your Divine Son shed in the Garden of Gethsemane, I ask You to free the souls in Purgatory, in particular those who are most neglected. Lead them into Your Glory so that they praise and glorify You in eternity. Amen.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary; Lord, grant them eternal peace.
Day 2
Lord, Almighty God, through the Sacred Blood which Your Divine Son shed during the cruel Scourging, I ask You to free the souls in Purgatory, in particular those who stand the closest to the entrance to Your Delight. Let them begin to praise and glorify You now in eternity. Amen.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary; Lord, grant them eternal peace.
Day 3
Lord, Almighty God, through the Sacred Blood which Your Divine Son shed at the painful Crowning of thorns, I ask You to free the souls in Purgatory, in particular those in most need of our intercession. Do not let them wait any longer to praise and glorify You in eternity. Amen.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary; Lord, grant them eternal peace.
Day 4
Lord, Almighty God, through the Sacred Blood which Your Divine Son shed in the streets of Jerusalem as He carried the Cross on His Holy Shoulder, I ask You to free the souls in Purgatory, in particular the one who in Your Eyes has the greatest merits so that he can, from the high and glorious throne that awaits him, praise and glorify You in eternity. Amen.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary; Lord, grant them eternal peace.
Day 5
Lord, Almighty God, through the Sacred Flesh and Blood of Your Divine Son, Jesus Christ, which He Himself on the evening before His Death offered to His beloved apostles as food and drink, which He thereby left behind as continuous Offering and life-giving Sustenance for the faithful of the entire Church, I ask You to free the souls in Purgatory, in particular the one who honored this Secret of His Infinite Love the most, so that he with Your Divine Son and the Holy Spirit may, through this Holy Sacrament, praise and glorify You in eternity. Amen.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary; Lord, grant them eternal peace.
Day 6
Lord, Almighty God, through the Sacred Blood that Your Divine Son shed from His Hands and Feet while on the beam of the Cross, I ask of You to free the souls in Purgatory, in particular the one for whom I must pray the most. Do not let that one stay there any longer due to my fault so that he may praise and glorify You in eternity. Amen.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary; Lord, grant them eternal peace.
Day 7
Lord, Almighty God, through the Sacred Blood and Water which flowed from the Side of Your Divine Son in front of the eyes of His Holy Mother and to her greatest anguish, I ask You to free the souls in Purgatory, in particular the one who honored the highest Mother of Heaven the most intimately. Let him soon enter Your Glory in order to praise and glorify You with Mary in eternity. Amen.
Pray 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary; Lord, grant them eternal peace.
Meditating
For a holy and disciplined spirit will flee from deceit, and will rise and depart from foolish thoughts, and will be ashamed at the approach of unrighteousness.
†Wisdom 1:5 (Revised Standard)
Here is the Douay Rheims translation
For the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee from the deceitful, and will withdraw himself from thoughts that are without understanding, and he shall not abide when iniquity cometh in.
†Wisdom 1:5
And here is the Common English translation
A holy, instructive spirit will flee deceit and leave when ignorant people start to plot. It is ashamed to be found in the presence of wrongdoing.
†Wisdom 1:5
It’s that last version…well, first off, I’ve never heard of this translation, but I have to tell you, I quietly gasped when I read it…and leave when ignorant people start to plot…Oh my goodness ladies, this is exactly right where I am/have been with all my downer posts about the struggle and discernment process my family has been going through lately. It is ashamed to be found in the presence of wrongdoing…again, this is the burden we have been under while trying to ride out a particularly nasty storm. But there comes a time when you just have to evacuate for your own safety…for the salvation of your soul and those of your children.
Reading
I would like to have a plan for our 2013 Book Club Books. There are a couple of reasons for this: the ability to purchase them beforehand so we can read them at leisure and be ready when the discussion starts, adding to my amazon cart as I make purchases and maybe need one or two more items to get free shipping, so I can be on the lookout for them at discounted prices on the internet or used book stores.
So, what are your suggestions for our 2013 Book Club books? I would like to add some Scripture studies in addition to reading books. I’d also like to include a book or two of classic fiction (I would need Emily to help out here!) What do you think? I have a couple of suggestions, what do you think of these:
Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart
Abandonment to Divine Providence
And something Marian.
So, let’s talk about what we want to read and discuss this coming year.
Memorizing
Magnificat
I think I know one of the reasons I am having such a hard time with this, other than not making it a priority. I love listening to My Savior’s Love Endures (Magnificat)
Catholic Women Bloggers to Encourage
Veronica|My Catholic Kitchen (Mmmm, her recipes look delicious!)
Brianna|Just Showing Up
Catherine|Hallelujah Is My Song
Captured
Stop By and Thank Our Sponsors
Community Button
