Forty days after Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph brought Him to the Temple to be Presented to the Lord; that was the Law of God and they obeyed it perfectly.
While they were in the Temple, Mary also fulfilled another ceremony of the Hebrew Law. After the birth of their children, all mothers were suppose to go to the Temple for the ceremony called the Purification. Our Blessed Mother really did not have to fulfill this ceremony, because she was all pure. She went anyway, to teach us to be humble and obedient.
A holy old priest of the Temple named Simeon learned from God that the Infant Jesus was the Savior. With what joy he held Mary’s Son in his arms! Then inspired by God, he told her that she would have to suffer much. He was talking about the terrible pain our Blessed Mother would feel when Jesus died on the Cross.
The Feast of the Presentation and the Purification remind us that we belong to God, first of all. Because He is our Father and Creator, we owe Him our loving obedience.
In imitation of the Blessed Mother, let us cheerfully obey the rules laid down by our parents and teachers.
