Saturday, November 21, 2020 (today’s lectionary)
Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Presentation Day
These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the Earth. If anyone wants to harm them, fire comes out of their mouths and devours their enemies. They have the power to close up the sky.
What a great description of mothers protecting their loved ones!
In the Orthodox Christian world this day is celebrated as the Entry of the Most Holy Theotokos into the Temple. That word theotokos is one of my favorites, it means “Mother of God.” The word became a real sticking point at the Council at Nicea, from which came the Nicene Creed, which many of us have memorized and do not question. But those folks at the council questioned it, and Constantine had to step in with a fairly heavy hand and get them to vote with him. So it is written, so it shall be done.
In any case, the Rosary celebrates the “Presentation,” whether of Jesus or of Mary. And our desire to have something of a female component to our worship of what is mostly a male Godhead welcomes Mary as a fellow follower of Jesus, but a very special one. Generally, mothers get to go first, and Mary is the ultimate mother.
When they have finished their testimony, the beast climbs up from the abyss to wage war and kill them. Their corpses will lie in the streets of Sodom, where Jesus was crucified, for three and a half days. Those from every tribe and nation will at first gloat and then fear them, as a breath of life from God enters them and they stand back on their feet. And they went on up to heaven in a cloud, as the people looked on.
Is your name Mary? This is a day for you to celebrate! The Marys in my life have meant so much. Aunt Mary Lou, Mary Kay Cravens, Mary Lou Menches, Maria Sheaf in London so many years ago.
Are you, or will you be, or do you want to be a mother? This is a day for you to celebrate! Millions of mothers have gone before, and following in their footsteps seems to be a cause for joy and celebration. Neither pride nor shame befits a mother, only humility and faithfulness and perseverance. Nothing’s gonna stop that trio.
Blessed be the Lord, my Rock! You are my mercy and my fortress, my stronghold and deliverer. You are my shield, in whom I trust. O God I will sing a new song to you and chant your praise.
My mother Angie Brummer Sandel carefully removed the manure from my shoes before we knelt at Lutheran communion. She made sure we subscribed to and attended the Lincoln Community Concerts, where we saw Ferrante & Teicher and Victor Borge. She and Dad took me to Antioch College, the University of Chicago, Northwestern, Valpo and the University of Missouri for college visits. She spent her life teaching school, raising us, and nourishing our family spirit in countless ways.
She spent at least two decades caring first for Dad, then for Aunt Mary, and finally for her new friend Everett Walker. All of them died, in 2002, 2006 and Everett in 2010. Now at the close of 2020, Mom still sits smiling in her chair at home, doing jigsaw puzzles and reading book after book after book. She’ll be 99 next year.
They can no longer die, for they are like angels. They are the children of God because they are the ones who will rise. Our God is not God of the dead, but of the living.
So Father, today may I Present My Mother to You? Please pour out your love and grace and give her the keys she’ll need, so she might dwell in your house forever.
(Revelation 11, Psalm 144, 2 Timothy 1, Luke 20)
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