Readings: Apocalypse 5:1-10, Ps. 149:1-6,9, Luke 19:41-44
“They sing a new song: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.’” (Revelation 5:9-10)
In Genesis 22:11-12, we read how God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac to test his faith. In verse 7, Isaac asked Abraham, “We have fire and wood, but where is the lamb?” and Abraham said, “God would provide.”
- In chapter 12 of Exodus, Moses instructs the Israelites about the Passover. Each family was to take an unblemished lamb and smear their doors with its blood. In this way, the angel of death would pass over their houses. When we read Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, and so on, we will discover that each time the Bible mentions the lamb, it does so from the perspective of sacrifice.
- In Samuel 7:9, Samuel took a lamb without stain and offered it as a burnt offering to the Lord. In verses 10 to 12, we read: “As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the Lord thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion; and they were routed before Israel.”
- Isaiah 53:7 reads: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” When Jeremiah was being oppressed for telling the truth, he said in 11:19, “But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter!”
- In the New Testament, we hear John the Baptist introducing Jesus to the crowd with these words: “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” It is at this point that we understand who this lamb is. The lamb Abraham said God would provide, the lamb sacrificed in Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, that Samuel offered, and the prophets spoke about is Jesus Christ.
- Peter would say: “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
- In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus, the Lamb of God, weeps over Jerusalem. Let us place ourselves in Jesus’s shoes for a moment. You realize that an earthquake, perhaps a tsunami, or devastating flooding is coming to a particular town; you run to warn them to start evacuating from the town, but they ignore you, criticize you, and even make up their minds to kill you for telling them the truth. This is the same reality we find ourselves in today.
- Finally, on this day, we commemorate the feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In unity with Eastern Christianity and commemorating the dedication in 543 of the New Basilica of Saint Mary, built next to the Temple at Jerusalem, this feast celebrates Mary’s “dedication” of herself to God from her infancy, inspired by the Holy Spirit, whose grace had filled her ever since her immaculate conception.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, deepen our appreciation of your sacrifice for our salvation and grant us the grace of true repentance. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Bible Study: Apocalypse 5:1-10, Ps. 149:1-6,9, Luke 19:41-44).
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu