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Feast of the Presentation Lk 2/22-40 |
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| Background: As we have noted before in these commentaries, scripture scholars now believe that the infancy narratives arose out of the early liturgical practices of the Jesus movement. The other parts of the gospel grew up around at first oral tradition and then written traditions which the Gospel writers put together. There is no trace of this development, however, in the infancy narratives. They appear almost full blown with no background development. They have been carefully composed with references to the Jewish scriptures. Perhaps, say some experts, they were liturgical plays, little dramas written for the community and perhaps acted out by children in the community (just the infancy narratives are often acted out today). This is not to suggest that they are pure fiction, but rather that they are stories put together for the community to emphasize their faith in who and what Jesus is. The two elderly spokes persons repeat the early Christian faith – and ours too. Incidentally, the custom of blessing candles today comes from the fact in ancient Rome, the "station" for the Mass today was a church in the ruins of the Forum (Santa Maria in Foro) and, since it was in the middle of winter, it was very dark and people needed the candles to find their way among the ruins. |
read the padre |
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Story: Once upon a time there was a little girl named Mary Elizabeth, in all respects and at all times, a most excellent little girl. HOWEVER, there were times, VERY rarely, when she became angry, VERY angry. She was kind of like a volcano erupted. She started loud and just louder as she grew more angry. WELL, her best friend was a little girl just her age named Angela. They were inseparable and they promised that, no matter what happened they would be best friends all their lives. Before Angela’s birthday Mary Elizabeth spent two whole days shopping with her mother for just the right dress to give for best friend. In fact, they had to take the dress they purchased back twice before Mary Elizabeth was perfectly satisfied. And Angela loved the dress, she said it was the most beautiful dress, she’d ever owned. WELL, two weeks later Mary Elizabeth and Angela had a terrible fight. It’s not up to us to say who was wrong, but the screamed and shouted at one another and yelled things like I’ll hate you forever. The day after the might Mary Elizabeth stormed over to Angela’s house and demanded the dress back. You’re not my friend any more. I want the dress back, she said. Indian giver, Angela yelled back. They pulled each other’s hair and kicked each other. Finally Angela’s mother shoved Mary Elizabeth out of the house. Mary Elizabeth stood outside and yelled and yelled. So Angela’s mother called Mary Elizabeth’s mother and told her come over and get her vile tempered little brat. Mary Elizabeth’s mother was very stern with her daughter. You can’t take gifts back just because your angry, she said. When you give something to your little friend, it’s like you’ve given something to God. You just can’t take it back. |
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