The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday of week 33 in Ordinary Time
Readings: 1 Maccabees 4:36-37, 52-59
The dedication of the altar in the Book of Maccabees, restored after its desecration, becomes a powerful symbol of renewal and total offering to God—a symbol perfectly fulfilled in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As Israel rejoiced in purifying and rededicating the place where God’s presence dwelt, so too the Church celebrates Mary’s presentation: the moment when she, filled with grace from her immaculate conception, offered her whole being to the Lord from her earliest years. Mary is the living altar, the pure dwelling where God Himself would take flesh. Her dedication was not a single gesture but a lifelong “yes,” expressed in humility, silence, courage, and unwavering trust. On this feast, we are invited to rediscover what it means to give ourselves to God—not in part, but wholly, allowing His grace to purify our hearts as the altar was purified, and His Spirit to shape our lives as He shaped Mary’s. True dedication to God always bears fruit in holiness, joy, and mission. Let’s reflect: Do I offer myself to God with the same wholehearted openness as Mary, allowing His grace to make my life a dwelling where His presence can shine?
Don Giorgio