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Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reading : Revelation 11:4-12

I, John, heard a voice from heaven speak to me:
Here are my two witnesses:
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands
that stand before the Lord of the earth.
If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths
and devours their enemies.
In this way, anyone wanting to harm them is sure to be slain.
They have the power to close up the sky
so that no rain can fall during the time of their prophesying.
They also have power to turn water into blood
and to afflict the earth with any plague as often as they wish.

When they have finished their testimony,
the beast that comes up from the abyss
will wage war against them and conquer them and kill them.
Their corpses will lie in the main street of the great city,
which has the symbolic names “Sodom” and “Egypt,”
where indeed their Lord was crucified.
Those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation
will gaze on their corpses for three and a half days,
and they will not allow their corpses to be buried.
The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them
and be glad and exchange gifts
because these two prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth.
But after the three and a half days,
a breath of life from God entered them.
When they stood on their feet, great fear fell on those who saw them.
Then they heard a loud voice from heaven say to them, “Come up here.”
So they went up to heaven in a cloud as their enemies looked on.

Responsorial Psalm : Psalm 144:1, 2, 9-10

R. (1b) Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
Blessed be the LORD, my rock,
who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
My mercy and my fortress,
my stronghold, my deliverer,
My shield, in whom I trust,
who subdues my people under me.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!
O God, I will sing a new song to you;
with a ten stringed lyre I will chant your praise,
You who give victory to kings,
and deliver David, your servant from the evil sword.
R. Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Alleluia : See 2 Timothy 1:10

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel : Luke 20:27-40

Some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,
came forward and put this question to Jesus, saying,
“Teacher, Moses wrote for us,
If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child,
his brother must take the wife
and raise up descendants for his brother.
Now there were seven brothers;
the first married a woman but died childless.
Then the second and the third married her,
and likewise all the seven died childless.
Finally the woman also died.
Now at the resurrection whose wife will that woman be?
For all seven had been married to her.”
Jesus said to them,
“The children of this age marry and remarry;
but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age
and to the resurrection of the dead
neither marry nor are given in marriage.
They can no longer die,
for they are like angels;
and they are the children of God
because they are the ones who will rise.
That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called ‘Lord’
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”
Some of the scribes said in reply,
“Teacher, you have answered well.”
And they no longer dared to ask him anything.

Message from the Readings

In the First Reading from Revelation, Saint John is shown the vision of two faithful witnesses who proclaim God’s truth despite opposition and persecution. Though they appear defeated in the eyes of the world, God ultimately vindicates them, restoring them to life and calling them into His heavenly presence.
In the Gospel, Jesus responds to the Sadducees’ doubts about the resurrection. He reveals that God is not the God of the dead but of the living. Through Christ, death does not have the final word. Those who belong to God are called to eternal life in His presence.
Together, these readings proclaim a powerful message: faithfulness to God may bring challenges, but His promise of eternal life gives us hope, strength, and courage to persevere.

 Reflection

In a world that often values comfort and popularity over truth, being a faithful witness to Christ can be difficult. The two witnesses in Revelation remind us that following God sometimes requires courage, perseverance, and sacrifice. Their apparent defeat was not their end because God remained faithful to them.
The Gospel directs our attention beyond the concerns of this earthly life toward the greater reality of God’s Kingdom. Jesus reminds us that eternal life is not merely a future promise but a present relationship with the living God.
The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary beautifully complements these readings. Tradition tells us that Mary was dedicated to God from an early age and remained faithful throughout her life. From Nazareth to Calvary, she trusted God’s plan even when she did not fully understand it.
Mary’s example challenges us to ask ourselves:
• Do I trust God when His plans differ from my own?
• Do I remain faithful when faith becomes difficult?
• Do I live with the hope of eternal life guiding my daily decisions?
Like Mary, we are called to offer ourselves completely to God. When we place our lives in His hands, we discover that true joy, purpose, and hope are found not in temporary things but in belonging to Him forever.

Prayer for the Day

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of faith and for the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who dedicated her life completely to Your service.
Grant me the courage to be a faithful witness to Your truth in a world that often turns away from You. Strengthen me when I face challenges, and help me remain steadfast in my commitment to Christ.
Lord Jesus, deepen my hope in the resurrection and remind me that You are the God of the living. May the promise of eternal life inspire me to live each day with faith, love, and perseverance.
Blessed Mother Mary, pray for me that I may follow your example of humility, obedience, and unwavering trust in God’s will.
May my life glorify God and lead others closer to Him.
Amen.

Daily Challenge

Today, dedicate a few moments to entrust your life, family, and future to God through Mary’s intercession. Ask yourself where God is calling you to greater trust and take one step of faith in that direction.
“He is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.” (Luke 20:38)
May the Blessed Virgin Mary inspire us to live as faithful witnesses of Christ, confident in God’s promises and filled with hope in the resurrection. 🙏🌹✨