About the #Nativity of Saint #Mary
Beloved in Christ, we gather today to contemplate a mystery profound, An event both in time and beyond time: the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, our spiritual mother. This narrative is not merely a story of the past but a living fountain of spiritual wisdom and grace, flowing into the hearts of the faithful.
The Prelude to Redemption
In the fullness of time, a moment chosen by Providence, the world witnessed the birth of Mary, a pivotal event in the history of salvation. Her nativity signifies not just the birth of a saintly figure, but the dawning of a new era in divine-human relations. The earth, long cursed to bear thorns and thistles, offered its first and most splendid fruit in Mary. Herein, we behold a divine paradox: the infinite God preparing a finite creature to become His dwelling place.
The Righteous Ancestors: Joachim and Anna
Consider Joachim and Anna, her venerable parents. In them, we see a living testament to faith and righteousness. Their lives, marked by piety and adherence to the law, were a prelude to the grace they would receive. Their daughter, Mary, was not merely the fruit of their lineage but a gift of grace, a testament to the power of God working through human fidelity. They were chosen not for their nobility or riches but for their humility and devotion, proving that God exalts the lowly and fills the hungry with good things.
The Conception and Birth of Mary
In the conception and birth of Mary, we witness the intersection of divine providence and human cooperation. This event was not an ordinary occurrence but a divine intervention, marking the beginning of the fulfillment of ancient prophecies. The birth of Mary was the dawn before the rising Sun, Christ Himself. She was born not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Mary: The Fulfillment of the Law
The nativity of Mary is not merely an isolated event but a critical juncture in the divine plan. She stands as the fulfillment of the Law, embodying its purity and righteousness. In her, the virtues extolled in the Old Testament find their perfect expression. Thus, in venerating Mary, we venerate the culmination of the law’s promise, the bridge between the old and the new.
The Virginity of Mary: A Sign of Divine Favor
The perpetual virginity of Mary is a sign of her unique role in salvation history. She was chosen, not consumed by earthly desires, but dedicated entirely to God's purpose. Her virginity is not a mere physical attribute but a symbol of her total consecration to God. In giving birth to Christ, she remains a virgin, signifying the miraculous nature of Christ's birth and the divine mystery encompassing it.
The Universal Motherhood of Mary
In her birth, Mary was given to humanity as a gift of grace, and through her, we received Christ, the greater gift. By bearing Christ, she becomes not only His mother but also the spiritual mother of all who follow Him. In her, we find our spiritual lineage, our connection to the divine. She is a mother to all, nurturing us in the faith and guiding us toward her Son.
Mary's Birth: A Challenge to Ancient Philosophies
The nativity of Mary confronts the ancient philosophies that viewed the material world with suspicion or contempt. In her, we see that creation can be sanctified and raised to divine dignity. Her purity and holiness challenge our perceptions of the physical world, revealing that it is not matter that is corrupt, but our misuse of it.
The Joy of Mary's Birth
The birth of Mary is a cause for universal rejoicing. It marks the end of a long period of spiritual barrenness and the beginning of our redemption. Just as a mother forgets her labor pains for the joy of bringing a child into the world, so too does the birth of Mary turn our sorrow into joy. In her birth, we see the promise of our own rebirth in Christ, the dawn of a new creation.
About the first #Sunday of #Pascha
This is the day that our Lord entered in a closed house, where the holy apostles were. He was among them and said "Peace be with you all" and explained the resurrection to them, but the apostle Thomas was not present. Later, when Thomas came, the holy apostles happily told him that the resurrection of our Lord had been revealed to them. "Am I going to teach and testify saying 'I heard' while you teach and testify saying you saw? No, if I don't see it, I won't believe it." Rather, He who knows the reason for the hearts of those whom He has chosen, the God of infinite goodness, the Savior of the world, just like He appeared to the other apostles, he entered without opening the door and stood among them, saying, "Peace be with you all." And he said to Thomas, "Believe, but do not doubt; behold, my hands and feet are nailed, and my pierced side." He saw our Lord and put his hands on his body to see that he was not a spirit and understood his divinity as he desired, he then believed and said "My Lord and my God."
When our Lord Jesus Christ appeared to the ten apostles for the first time, the apostle Thomas was not there. We celebrate this day to commemorate his second appearance to the apostles in the same place where St. Thomas was so that he can see him this time.
The Lord rose up to remove Thomas's doubt. When Thomas touched his side, which was pierced by a spear, his hand looked like it entered into a sea of fire and he cried out, "My Lord, my God." He healed him by saying, "You see and believe, but blessed are those who believe without seeing." Joh 20:29 This hand that touched his side is still alive today in the land of India with the Malankara Orthodox Church. It is said that they use this hand to choose bishop as she points to the one who is suitable for this appointment.
Therefore, this is the day when the mystery of resurrection was revealed to the apostles for the second time and our Church celebrated it in a special way.
May the name of the Holy God be praised forever and ever in every tongue that He has created, today and always.
May the blessings of God's mother, the virgin, and the cross be upon us. Amen.
© John's Repentance
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