“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”, 21/11/25, (Friday, 33rd Week in Ordinary Time of Year C. Also, Memorial of The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

(REMEMBER TO PRAY IN THIS MONTH OF NOVEMBER FOR YOUR RELATIVES, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS WHO HAVE DIED)

COLLECT: “AS WE VENERATE THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF THE MOST HOLY VIRGIN MARY, GRANT, WE PRAY, O LORD, THROUGH HER INTERCESSION, THAT, WE TOO, MAY MERIT TO RECEIVE FROM THE FULNESS OF YOUR GRACE. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.

1Mac 4:36-37,52-59; Ps 1Chron:29:10-12 and Lk 19:45-48.

The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary we celebrate today is a pious tradition, based on the apocryphal Proto-Gospel of James, which holds that as a child, Mary was presented and educated near the Temple in Jerusalem. This was probably for God to preserve Mary from the stain of sin as she was predestined by God to immaculately conceive and be the Mother of His Son.

In today’s first reading, with songs of praise, Judas Maccabeus and his companions re-consecrated the Temple, the physical sign of God among them, which the pagans, led by Antiochus Epiphanes desecrated, defiled and profaned. In the Gospel, before his teaching, Jesus cleanses the Temple precincts, which were desecrated and profaned by the sellers, buyers and money changers, by driving them out from the Temple.

It is when we do not live the scriptures that we allow other satanic and evil practices to defile, or profane, not only our physical places of worship (Churches/Temples) but also our lives and bodies. It is not only the introduction of idol worship or pagan worship, or carrying out businesses and commercial activities like what was going on in the Temple at the time of Jesus (Cf. Lk 19:45-48; Mt 21:12-17; Mk 11:12-19), that profane or defile the House of God or place(s) of worship. There are lots of external, as well as internal things that go on in our Churches or places of worship that profane and defile them.

Some external profane things that sometimes go on during our celebrations are: pilfering with offerings, collections and donations during celebrations in Churches. Unnecessary collections, unnecessary charges/fees like consultation fees, gate fees, membership fees, selling of other items like anointing oil/water, etc. Others are unnecessary noise during celebrations, profane or immoral dressing, like "one hand", "no hands", "Am aware", "Oto Fista", "Bare back" and their like, profane and vulgar language, insulting or abusive homilies/sermons, dishonest dealings, phones ringing and phone calls, whatsApping and browsing, watching porno, sitting in church with evil mind, courting while celebration is going on, etc. All these and many others desecrate and defile our celebrations and the places of worship.

Certain internal things that defile our celebrations are: unhealthy and immoral thoughts, evil intentions, wicked and devilish schemes and plans, brooding over a grudge and hatred against a fellow participant during the celebration, and so forth and so on.

Let us also remember that our bodies are Temples of the Holy Spirit and therefore there is always the constant need to re-consecrate, rededicate and purify them, especially when we remember that we have desecrated our bodies with our sinful deeds, thoughts and words.

If we cannot purify them before we come for celebrations in Church, we always have the chance to do that during the Penitential Rite and the Agnus Dei (The Lamb of God). May God always grant us the grace to see the need for constant purification of our lives and may we always treat our places of worship with the due honour and reverence they deserve.

Let us also see today, not only as Mary's Presentation in the Temple, but the presentation of each and every one of us in the Church for purification. May the Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for us. Stay blessed.

WE MEDITATE TODAY, FRIDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE)

“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.

PRAYER: “RENEWED BY THIS PASCHAL SACRAMENT, WE PRAY, O LORD, THAT WE, WHO HONOUR THE MEMORY OF THE MOTHER OF YOUR SON, MAY SHOW FORTH IN OUR MORTAL FLESH THE LIFE OF JESUS. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN”.

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@ya@yahoo.com