Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
(II Maccabees 6:18-31; Luke 19:1-10)
Today’s first reading tells of a man who suffers brash
cruelty. Eleazar is threatened with
death and then executed for not eating pork.
He leaves a legacy of humility, courage, and integrity. He puts God first, not his physical
well-being. And he overcomes the fear of
violent death as he offers himself as a testimony to the faith of his ancestors. Not only Jews and the young should take
notice. The elderly especially have much to learn from Eleazar’s example.
Old people must brace themselves for suffering. They experience pain and limitation in their
declining years. Their forgetfulness
causes frustration and embarrassment. They
feel loneliness from the death of friends and a growing alienation from the
world. Like Eleazar, they can respond to
these trials with faith that God will ultimately save them.
Many of us, already old, should prepare ourselves for
suffering. We need to pray that our
suffering will be tolerable and that we remain faithful to his call us to take
up our cross after him. The rest of us
along with prayer should offer our support and consolation to the elderly as
their tribulations set in.
