The Presentation of Mary

The Feast of the Presentation of Mary, appearing in the Eastern Church, Jerusalem, to be exact, in the sixth century is based on the story appearing in the apocryphal Gospel of St. James, and thus has no real historical basis, but theologically, it fits with Mary's total dedication to God stemming from her Immaculate Conception to her complete compliance and availability at the Annunciation.  Mary is God's chosen instrument from the beginning of her existence, indeed from all eternity, for we read in  Jeremiah 1:5 "Before you were formed in the womb, I knew you."  If such could be said about a prophet, how much more about the Mother of God?
So it is very plausible that all her life, Mary's heart belonged to God and that the story of a three-year old being presented in the temple symbolizes this dedication.  It also is a reminder to us that our origins were seen and blessed by God before we were conceived and that our full happiness and completion of our being comes with total dedication to God...whatever God wants from us, we freely give. The poetry and rich imagery of St. Germanus, the Patirarch of Constantinople (715-730),  might help us appreciate the beauty of this feast and help us appreciate and love Mary more.
"Hail, holy throne of God, divine sanctuary, house of glory, jewel most fair, chosen treasure house, and mercy seat for the whole world, heaven showing forth the glory of God. Purest Virgin, worthy of all praise, sanctuary dedicated to God and raised above all human condition, virgin soil, unplowed field, flourishing vine, fountain pouring out waters, virgin bearing a child, mother without knowing man, hidden treasure of innocence, ornament of sanctity, by your most acceptable prayers, strong with the authority of motherhood, to our Lord and God, Creator of all, your Son who was born of you without a father, steer the ship of the Church and bring it to a quiet harbor" (adapted from a homily by St. Germanus on the Presentation of the Mother of God).

Bro. Rene