JANUARY 10TH

The Blessed Mother of God Brings Her Divine Child to the Temple

“And after the days of her purification were accomplished, according to the law of Moses, they carried Him to Jerusalem, to present Him to the Lord, as it is written in the law of the Lord.” (Luke 2:22–23)

First Prelude:

I picture our Blessed Mother holding Baby Jesus in her arms, waiting quietly in the court of the Temple for the high priest.

Second Prelude:

O holy Mother of God, please help me understand your beautiful example, and help me copy your virtue.

First Point

Mary Fulfills the Law Perfectly

Mary knew God’s law was God’s holy Will, so she wanted to do it carefully, even the smallest parts. When the forty days were finished, she hurried to Jerusalem to present Jesus to the Most High, and to make the offering the law asked for.

This was Mary’s living faith, her deep humility, and her loving obedience. Whenever God showed His Will, Mary answered with her whole heart:

“Behold, the handmaid of the Lord, be it done to me according to Thy word.” (Luke 1:38)

In the Temple, where God was honored in a special way, Mary praised Him and thanked Him. She gave all honor to God, who had looked upon her humility and raised her to be the Mother of God. And she offered herself, and her Divine Son, into God’s wise and loving plans.

How pleased the heavenly Father must have been with this holy Virgin who obeyed so perfectly! And how much grace must have come to Mary through this offering.

If we want to be true children of our holy Mother, we must try to resemble her—especially by obedience. We have promised to keep God’s law, and to be faithful to our duties. St. Teresa says God asks for “nothing but obedience.” So we should renew our obedience, without holding anything back.

Second Point

Mary Submitted to a Law Not Binding on Her

Mary was without sin, so this law did not bind her the way it bound ordinary mothers. Still, even with all her gifts and dignity as Mother of God, she chose to obey—so she could give us an example.

She stayed modest and quiet, and made the offering as if she were an ordinary mother. What a beautiful lesson! She obeyed without wanting to be noticed, and without making excuses to protect self-love.

True obedience does what God asks in a simple, straight way, without hunting for special exceptions. It accepts what is required, and does not demand extra freedoms.

This makes me ask myself: how is my obedience compared to Mary’s? Too often my excuses only sound reasonable. When will I seek God’s honor alone—obeying Him, and wanting to be known only to Him?

Mary allowed the Temple rite to be done over her like it was done for every other mother. God knew her purity—and that was enough for Mary. What people might think of her did not matter much to her.

My heavenly Mother teaches me not to chase human praise or fear human criticism, but to seek God alone in what I do—and even in what I leave undone. She teaches me to see God’s holy Will in the directions of my superiors, and to love what humbles me if it helps me obey.

Affections

O Mary, what a wonderful example you give me here! You did not have to obey this law, and yet you obeyed quickly and gladly, simply because it pleased God.

Your obedience shows me how careless I can be with my own duties. So often, because of self-love, I treat sacred duties like they are small.

O holy Virgin, please obtain for me a truly humble heart, so I can escape vanity and wanting to impress people. Help me practice real submission, so I may grow in holiness.

Resolution

I will do all my actions in a spirit of submission.

Spiritual Bouquet:

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord! Be it done unto me according to thy word!”

Prayer: O Jesus, living in Mary . . .


These meditations come from a treasured old volume, copyright 1925 by Frederick Pustet Co., Inc. They are presented here exactly as found in the original book—word for word—and carry the quiet, steady tone of a guide long used in convents around the world. Yet their simplicity and directness remain just as helpful for anyone seeking a more prayerful, faithful daily life.