For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/112107.shtml
When a child is brought to the Church for baptism, the child's name is proclaimed at the beginning of the rite as a reenactment of the Jewish tradition of presentation. The name is pronounced in the Church as a confirmation that this child belongs not to the parents, but to God. The parents are stewards of this precious gift, and in the end, they give God the chance to name the child. In baptism, parents proclaim the truth that they are not owners of the child they present, but are caretakers of the mystery of life.
The mother is 2nd Maccabees is extraodinarily courageous in directing her son to give up his life. The mother is able to give this instruction because she knows the power of God to give and to restore life is greater than the power of men to destroy life. This woman in 2 Mac prefigures beautifully our Blessed Mother, whose presentation in the temple we commemorate today. Mary taught her son that to obey the will of God was sweeter than life itself, and He, like the son in today's first reading, was able to say to his persecutors - You do not take my life from me - I freely lay it down.
Joachim and Anne brought Mary to the temple for her presentation in order to proclaim that Mary was a child of God, and that her life had lasting value only insofar as it was received as a gift. Mary became the handmaid of the Lord, willing to give her life back to God generously accordingly to his will. She did not guard her life our of fear, like the miserly steward we hear of in today's Gospel. Because of this, she was the first to receive the gift of eternal life from Her Son!
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