The Feast of Mary’s Presentation

Today in the Catholic Church we celebrate the Presentation of the Virgin Mary. This feast is a part of both Roman and Eastern rites as well as some Anglo-Catholics. The roots of this feast are not found in the Canonized Bible but rather recount the apocryphal Gospel of Saint James.

The Gospel of Saint James is considered to be a second-century infancy gospel that provided the background information of Mary’s Immaculate Conception, her family, upbringing and marriage to Joseph. The author is said to be James, the brother of Jesus. James and Jesus did not share a common mother in Mary, but the same earthly father, Saint Joseph.

According to the Gospel of Saint James, Mary’s parents were elderly and without a child. They were said to be so grateful for the birth of their daughter that when she was but three years of age, they brought her to the temple and presented her there, to be consecrated to God. While Eastern churches recognized the Feast of the Presentation in the 6th century, it did not become widely accepted in the West until the 15th century.

One of the things that I cherish about my Catholic Faith is the relationship between the Church and the women of the Bible. Some think Christianity, and in particular the Catholic Church with its strict adherence to male-only deacons and priests, somehow makes second class citizens out of women. Nothing could be further from the truth. However; the Church does recognize that there are differences between a man and a women. Each is important in the eyes of God, with roles to play that feed into their particular strong points. If Christianity is supposed to teach that women are less valuable than a man, why was the First Miracle, the wedding at Cana and changing water into wine done at the gently insistence of a Mary, a women? When the identity of the promised Messiah was first revealed to the Samaritans, why was it a woman, the woman at the well, who carried this news? And finally, when Christ rose from the dead, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene and not the Apostles. A woman’s testimony at the time was considered to be not reliable, and yet time and time again Christ chose women to play key rolls in His plans. We are not second class citizens. We hold positions of honor.

When I was thinking about what to make for this Feast Day, two things came to mind. First is that it happens to be a Tuesday. Tacos. And second that this tiny child would grow up to be the mother of God, and she would be the first to hold him, wrapped in swaddling clothes, in her loving arms. Swaddling clothes – Chalupas. Okay, that’s a stretch, but that’s how my mind works sometimes.

Enjoy!

Chalupa Style Tacos
Taco Filling
1 tablespoon Onion flakes
3 tablespoons Water
1 lb Ground Beef
1/2 lb Chorizo
1/4 cup Masa Flour
1 tablespoon New Mexican Red Chili Powder
1 tablespoon Taco Seasoning
1 teaspoon Hot Smoked Paprika
Salt to taste

Mix onion flakes with water in a small bowl. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds. Let stand for 5 minutes.

Place ground meats into a mixing bowl. Add flour, spices and onion mixture. Mix well to combine.

In a large cast iron skillet, cook beef mixture until browned, about 15 minutes. Stir often while cooking, breaking meat into small pieces. Remove from heat. If necessary, drain off any excess grease. Keep filling warm.

Chalupa Tacos
1 cup shredded Lettuce
1 Roma Tomato
1/4 cup Vegetable Oil or as needed
6 Pita Breads
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1 cup Mild Cheddar cheese
Taco Sauce as desired

Chiffonade lettuce to shred, set aside. See tomato, dice into small pieces, set aside.

In a small skillet, warm about 2 tablespoons oil. Fry the Pita Breads, one at a time, until soft, pliable and warmed. Add more oil as necessary to lightly fry the bread. Blot with a paper towel to remove excess oil. Keep warm.

To assemble: Spread sour cream down the center of the Chalupa, top with some of the meat mixture. Add diced tomatoes, shredded lettuce and cheese. Finish with taco sauce. Enjoy!

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The Lord upholds me