Rejoice for Emmanuel comes; let him be born in the manger of your hearts – reach out onto those who are isolated due to fragility of body and mind: set them free as witness to the blessed Incarnation!
The above statement is complex – we can’t save for there is only one Saviour; yet we can mirror our belief in him via going out of our way in order to help another human person who is suffering. At first, due to many reasons, this person may have feelings of shame or resentment for the very fact of being robbed of their faculties and rights to a quality of life.
Yet, just like any relationship – trust must be gained via the witness of compassion that synchronizes with our words and actions. Last Sunday, the gospel passage of the Good Samaritan was proclaimed which mirrors the whole point of the advent; God visits a wounded world robbed of its rights and dignity which lays stripped, beaten and left to its own demise.
He is the Samaritan – the one who his own people “the supposed clergy and faithful” do not recognize for his visit was not one expected alike an Alexander the Great. Rather, he was unveiled amongst shepherds, learnt the skill of a tradesman, yet kept away from prestige and worked as much as possible behind the scenes.
Above all, the heart of God was close to the world’s abandoned and marginalized; out of pure love imminent healings were bestowed – the means of nourishing presence via the strength of he who cares! Just as a parent safeguards the life of a child - the divine parent bestowing existence desired us to wholesomely grow; opening life’s portal via that same love in stretching out his arms on a tree.
He taught us to love one another as he loves and through such – others would recognize that we belong to him and wholeheartedly follow his way; the pathway of peace leading to the kingdom of uncreated blessed light. One such follower was a surgeon by the name Valentine – he was a widower, and a father who was persecuted by the communists for assisting the very people they starved, tortured and emotionally drained.
This same surgeon St. Luke bishop of Simferopol (1877 -1961AD) was called by he who is the Good Samaritan – binding the wounds of the afflicted and nursing them in his own home; offering the starving a place at his table as the means of nourishment for their weary hearts. Although he went without food numerous of times; the joy of a broken person receiving that which had been deprived them was his food!
A few years ago when I served in the Russian Church as a Deacon, I was asked to write a small reflection upon the beginning of the Advent season – opening its portals in commemoration of that very day the high priest and bishop Joachim and his wife Anna presented their little pride, joy and gift onto the Lord: Mariam.
They were a virtuous and hardworking couple who had hearts of gold, yet despite their rich goodness and place of ecclesial prominence; these were considered cursed due to having no children – the sorrow of shame wearying their hearts. Yet, the divine parent who loves his children reversed the cycle of the natural order (miracles of this nature happen) and gave them a little girl whom in turn would become mother of his own miracle child – his presence and gift to our race!
Today, the most pure temple of the Saviour, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the House of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.
These words of the festal Kontakion hymn do indeed alert us to the fact that ages ago something happened to our existence; something changed the fate of history – the unseen became visible and that which is uncontainable made a home among mortals. It was like the roles, the natural order of things reversed, where our gaze of the sacred in the heavens turned to be fixed on a human birth.
A stone structure, furnished with the finest craftsmanship which housed the sacred became the temple made of bone, flesh, and blood. Thus, that which is paternal was nurtured by maternal love; the completion and glory of history via a promise which became realized by a servant girls’ reply.
Indeed, we are truly well on the way within the Nativity Fast, where we reflect on the Advent, the coming of the Lord Most High. Thus, he chose the lowly maid via the Archangel Gabriel’s cry - she humbly replying; “who am I?” Little did the lass know she was to surpass the celestial bodies by giving birth to the Lord of heaven and earth! Thus, all creation now magnifies her worth.
In order that any seed which is planted may grow and bare good fruit, it must be cultivated in good rich soil and tended too until the season is right. Thus, the most blessed among women was given to God and placed in the temple where she would sing of his mercy and grow in obedience to the divine Word.
Therefore, in the fullness of time, He who is mercy and love would dwell among us - making this woman the Ark in whom souls would implore – honouring the Father through his Mother; rejoicing in she who bore Christ the Saviour of the universe.
Thus, as means of redemption and love, God stooped down from above and took flesh from the virgin to free the world from its errors as we heard in the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Hebrew Church as it reads:
“Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies…..there lay the Ark of the Covenant…….above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat…….but only into this does the high priest enter; offering the blood for himself and for the errors of the entire people.”
Furthermore, in his book entitled: The Virgin Mary – the celebration of faith, the renowned scholar Fr. Alexander Schmemaan writes:
In the image of the Virgin Mary, we find compassion, tender-heartedness, care, trust, and humility. We call her Our Lady and the queen of heaven and earth, and yet she calls herself “the handmaid of the Lord!” Christ said: “Do not be anxious. Seek first the kingdom of God!” (Mt 6:33) Beholding this woman, Virgin Mother, Intercessor, we begin to sense, to know not with our mind, but with our heart, what it means to seek the kingdom, to find it, and to live by it!
For indeed, she heard the Word of God and nurtured thus in her womb! Hence, with the whole Church scattered throughout the world we cry: “Rejoice full of grace the Lord is with you!”(Lk 1: 26-38)
Our Holy Mother Mariam Theotokos learnt a most sublime praise within her time as a Virgin of the Lord’s temple – the Song of Hanna the Mother of Sampson (1 Sam 2: 1-10) with this same prayer (the Magnificat) Mariam uttered the Lord’s praises when cousin Elizabeth confirmed all that the Archangel foretold. (Lk 1: 39 - 56)
A few weeks ago, I promised you all that we would have a prominent section available on the webpage regarding Apostolic Succession – our linage in the Apostles which we trace back to St. Andrew.
This careful historical and canonical study which I undertook has been approved by the holy synods within the ecclesial intercommunion – yet revision is still active as there are numerous bishops processing the work which has been thus far acclaimed. We will post it as soon as canonical revision is completed.
Regarding aspects of canonicity: the Apostle St. Paul exhorted onto the early Church (1Cor 11:26) which we have kept in the Divine Rites of her liturgies that: “When you partake of this divine commemoration - the bread that is broken and wine that is poured becomes the mystery of the Lord’s passion which we must hold until he returns in his glory!” Hence, the command of Christ that fulfils his promise; enriched with his presence via partaking and becoming his hands and feet in the world until he returns!
Truly, the call of spiritual growth and humbling of heart is a means of transfiguration; his desire for us to let go fully of all that impedes us and imprisons us from approaching the crib of his birth – embracing the totality of others with that same love which he called us forth into life!
Let us then furnish the manger of our hearts with good works and compassion onto others. May divine love find a worthy home amongst us through our commitment to strive to love via embracing the brokenness of others; that same love that endured wounds which pierced his hands, feet and side!
Rejoice Holy Mother, for out of love you gave yourself freely onto God who in turn outpoured the fullness of his Grace in your womb. The love of the Father became personified and taught us to fulfil the New Commandment “love one another as I have loved you!”
May you teach us how to love and shun hate, how to reach out onto others rather than resent; may we live out our baptismal promises in being robed with Christ who is the Father’s love that conquers all worthless desires which ultimately impede us!
Rejoice Holy Virgin Mother Mariam filled with God’s grace for the Lord is born of you!
Last verses of the 7th stanza within the Akathist (greeting) Hymn to the Holy Theotokos.
Comments