The model of kings and the queen

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today connect us to images of God and the Kingdom formed during difficult times of persecution. The celebration of presentation of Mary by her parents in the Temple is a view of grace in an act where she is offered to God.

Place of contemplation

The text from the Book of Revelation offers a vision of heavenly worship.

* [4:1–11] The seer now describes a vision of the heavenly court in worship of God enthroned. He reverently avoids naming or describing God but pictures twenty-four elders in priestly and regal attire (Rev 4:4) and God’s throne and its surroundings made of precious gems and other symbols that traditionally express the majesty of God (Rev 4:5–6). Universal creation is represented by the four living creatures (Rev 4:6–7). Along with the twenty-four elders, they praise God unceasingly in humble adoration (Rev 4:8–11).

In the Gospel from Luke, the parable of the ten gold coins reminds us that we need to remember that we lose it if we don’t use it.

* [19:11–27] In this parable Luke has combined two originally distinct parables: (1) a parable about the conduct of faithful and productive servants (Lk 19:13, 15b–26) and (2) a parable about a rejected king (Lk 19:12, 14–15a, 27). The story about the conduct of servants occurs in another form in Mt 25:14–20. The story about the rejected king may have originated with a contemporary historical event. After the death of Herod the Great, his son Archelaus traveled to Rome to receive the title of king. A delegation of Jews appeared in Rome before Caesar Augustus to oppose the request of Archelaus. Although not given the title of king, Archelaus was made ruler over Judea and Samaria. As the story is used by Luke, however, it furnishes a correction to the expectation of the imminent end of the age and of the establishment of the kingdom in Jerusalem (Lk 19:11). Jesus is not on his way to Jerusalem to receive the kingly power; for that, he must go away and only after returning from the distant country (a reference to the parousia) will reward and judgment take place.

Eileen-Burke Sullivan comments that the readings today are not from the Marian lectionary, but the readings of Ordinary Time. They intersect with his feast because they invite us to consider deeply the invitation to participate in the Christ life to which we have been presented and dedicated.

The Gospel warns that those who are given gifts for the sake of the Kingdom, (read, all of us who have been Baptized) must use them or lose them.  Whether given ten, or five or one opportunity, we are to use it for God’s Glory (the Magis in Ignatian terms).
The first reading, from the Book of Revelations is a rich vision of the Glory of God that will be disclosed in the wonder, magnificence and beauty of all creation, when we truly recognize that God is God.
Rather than thinking of a text like this a vision of life after this life, it is worth considering that the author   is caught up in this life in a vision of the Glory of God, and he describes it in creation terms.

Don Schwager quotes “Talents are divine gifts given to the faithful”, by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).

"To those who believe in him, the Savior distributes a variety of divine gifts. We affirm that this is the meaning of the talent. Truly great is the difference between those who receive the talents and those who have even completely denied his kingdom. They are rebels that throw off the yoke of his scepter, while the others are endowed with the glory of serving him. As faithful servants, therefore, they are entrusted with their Lord’s wealth. They gain something by doing business. They earn the praises due to faithful service, and they are considered worthy of eternal honors." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 129)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Revelation 4:1-11 finds that today’s reading contains one of the most fascinating and encouraging images in Revelation: an open door to heaven.

Well, think about John in his solitary exile. If anyone could have felt far from God’s reach, it was probably him. But look at what happened. God opened heaven for him.
That same door is open for you. Maybe when you are at Mass, you are struck by how great and majestic and powerful God is. Or maybe gratitude for Jesus’ love wells up in you as you picture the angels and saints praising God. Or maybe an unexpected kind word from a friend gives you comfort and reassures you of God’s provision. Each of these, and so many more, is a glimpse into heaven!

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the Vision of God the Father and the door open to heaven in Revelation. Symbols of colour in Revelation point to being judged with justice and mercy. We find out about God through salvation history and creation. Friar Jude suggests that the episode in the Gospel of Luke may be associated with the destruction of the Temple.

A post by Franciscan Media offers a reflection that it is sometimes difficult for modern Westerners to appreciate a feast like the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated today.

The Eastern Church, however, was quite open to this feast and even somewhat insistent about celebrating it. Even though the feast has no basis in history, it stresses an important truth about Mary: From the beginning of her life, she was dedicated to God. She herself became a greater temple than any made by hands. God came to dwell in her in a marvelous manner and sanctified her for her unique role in God’s saving work. At the same time, the magnificence of Mary enriches her children. They—we—too are temples of God and sanctified in order that we might enjoy and share in God’s saving work.

The Catholic Culture Website shares the Collect Prayer for today.

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 fullness of your grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, presents the perspective of Father Thomas Keating that the dying process is the culmination or the peak of the whole development of the spiritual journey, in which total surrender to God involves the gift of life itself, as we know it. For that reason it’s not really death, but life reaching out to a fullness that we can’t imagine from this side of the dying process.

Nothing is more certain than death. It can’t simply be a disaster. It’s rather a transition like all the other transitions and developments of human consciousness all the way up to unity with Ultimate Reality. The latter involves freedom from the senses and our thinking processes; in other words, entering into the simplicity of the divine energy that pours itself out into the world through continuing creation. The divine energy sustains us with immense love and patience through all the stages of consciousness. [4]

The end times are a proper theme for the end of the Liturgical Year in November. The image of Mary at the beginning of her life and our contemplation of the open door to heaven counterbalance some end times concern.

References

(n.d.). Revelation chapter 4 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/revelation/4
(n.d.). Luke chapter 19 - United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from http://www.usccb.org/bible/luke/19
(n.d.). Creighton U Daily Reflections .... Retrieved November 21, 2018, from http://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/daily.html
(n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from https://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org/
(n.d.). Meditations - The Word Among Us. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from https://wau.org/meditations/
(n.d.). Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Franciscan Media. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/presentation-of-mary/
(2017, December 30). 2018 Daily Meditations - Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 21, 2018, from https://cac.org/2018-daily-meditations/