An ancient tradition holds that Mary was presented in the Temple of Jerusalem as a little girl. And so today the Church celebrates Mary as Ark of the Covenant and House of Gold, the dwelling place of God Most High who chose her chaste body as his nesting place.
At this morning's Mass, we heard the Gospel reading in which a woman from the crowd listening to Jesus is so taken with him that she cries out, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed." Jesus responds, “Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.” Jesus tells us that we are like his mother when we hold on to the words he speaks to us and ponder them in our hearts. Then like Mary, we can become Christ-bearers.
The Child Mary Asleep, Francisco de Zurbaran, 1630-1635, oil on canvas, Galerie Canesso, Lugano.