She Shows the Way

Hello Friends,
Today in the Gospel, we hear about the presentation of the Lord at the temple. Mary and Joseph
were pious Jews, and as prescribed, they presented Jesus to God the Father at the temple. The Holy
Spirit had revealed to Simeon that he would not die until he saw the Messiah.
When Simeon holds Jesus in his arms, the Holy Spirit moves him to recognize that this is the long-awaited Messiah.

Simeon tells Mary, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel and to be a
sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many
hearts may be revealed.” This Gospel passage is my favorite for meditating on the fourth joyful
mystery of the Rosary. This rich, short passage opens my mind to contemplate Christ’s early life
with the Holy Family and Mary’s obedience as she accompanied our Lord all the way to his passion.

At the temple, Mary offers Jesus to God, knowing that he is the Son of God. When Simeon says a
sword will pierce, Mary knows there will be sorrow, and despite what is to come, we are taught in
the Catechism that “she never ceased to believe in the fulfillment of God’s word” (CCC 149). When
I flash forward to what Simeon’s prophecy will be, I imagine Michelangelo’s Pieta. Mary is holding
her son’s broken body, and with her free hand, she is gesturing to offer up the Son to God. Jesus will
take on the sins of the world, our sins, and this is what will come to pass. He became one of us and
died so that we could be reunited with Him.
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Our Lady understands human suffering, which is inevitable on our journey to heaven. At the foot of
the cross, despite her intense sorrow, she stays close to Jesus as he lays down his life for our
salvation. Mary’s piercing of the heart was not in vain, and she shows us the path to redemptive
suffering. Death on the cross was not the end of Jesus but his victory over death and sin. 

I take comfort in praying the Rosary, knowing that our Blessed Mother will bring my prayers to her son. When I ask our Blessed Mother for her intercession, I think of her instructions to the servers at the wedding at Cana when she says, “Do whatever he tells you.” Our Blessed Mother will take my prayers to Jesus, but I also must do whatever he tells me.

Siempre Adelante!
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Manuel Leon
Business Manager

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