There are three great themes of Christ’s manifestation which are played out over the Epiphany season: the coming and worship of the Gentile Magi, the baptism of Jesus with the manifestation of the Holy Trinity, and the first sign at Cana in which water is turned to wine. Today we deal with the second, Jesus’ baptism, as recorded so succinctly in St. Mark’s Gospel.
Continue reading “Reflections on the Second Sunday after Epiphany”Reflections on the Sunday in the Octave of the Epiphany
Proverbs 8 speaks of the Wisdom of God – the excellency, nature, power, riches and eternity of Wisdom. It is something to be desired above all else. And we know that the wisdom of God is generally opposed to what men call wisdom. St. Paul waxes eloquently about this in 1st Corinthians 1:19-25 and 2:6-10. How is this wisdom acquired? How do we enter into this wisdom? This is the theme of Romans 12…
Continue reading “Reflections on the Sunday in the Octave of the Epiphany”Reflections on the Epiphany of Our Lord
The word epiphany in Greek means manifestation or appearance. Originally the Greek-speaking Church of the Eastern Mediterranean celebrated both the Birth of Christ and the Manifestation on one and the same day, January 6, while the Western Church celebrated the Nativity or Christmass on December 25.
Continue reading “Reflections on the Epiphany of Our Lord”Reflections on the Sunday in the Octave of the Nativity of Our Lord
This Sunday falls in the middle of the 12 Days of Christmas, and nearly at the end of the secular year, and that ending is often a time of reflection on the past and a looking with hope to the future. With a slightly greater perspective, we might reflect on the state of religion in America. In just the past few decades, its face has changed rather radically. A recent article reported that “post-modernist” Americans, if they are looking for religion at all, want it on very individualistic terms.
Continue reading “Reflections on the Sunday in the Octave of the Nativity of Our Lord”Reflections on the Nativity of Our Lord
The Son of God was incarnate for two primary purposes: first, to conquer death on our behalf and grant us an entrance into the kingdom of light, and to manifest & restore the image and likeness in which we were created through the great Atonement for sin.
Continue reading “Reflections on the Nativity of Our Lord”Reflections on the Fourth Sunday in Advent
“Make straight the way of the Lord”
For us Orthodox, the spiritual work is almost entirely the inner work of the purification and illumination by God of our hearts. We make straight the way of the Lord within, that we may walk in it without. This infinite universe within us is not always easy to find, but by faith and discipline and perseverance, it will open to us. Our spiritual fathers and masters of prayer have taught us as much. Theology is a matter of prayer, not intellectual exercise:
“Seek the answer in God’s grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of the will, not in understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research; Seek the bridegroom, not the teacher.” Bonaventure
Continue reading “Reflections on the Fourth Sunday in Advent”Reflections on the First Sunday in Advent
As we move into another Advent season, we are confronted in our collect and epistle with the images of time and of light and darkness. We ask that we may cast away the works of darkness and put on the armor of light in the time of this mortal life. St. Paul speaks of the awaking out of sleep, the night being far spent and the time of our salvation at hand. Continue reading “Reflections on the First Sunday in Advent”
Reflections on the Season of Advent
Advent has challenges for us, which seem to increase every year. I remember over 40 years ago one of my first “children’s sermons” at the first church I served in Arkansas. I wasn’t too savvy about such things, and began the sermon on 1 Advent with a question: “Who can tell me what season this is?” A young nimrod raised his hand, and offered “It’s duck season, Father!” Well, I couldn’t argue with that, but I never appreciated the practice of getting up before dawn to sit in the cold waiting for a duck to pass within reach of your shotgun. It always seemed just an excuse to try to keep yourself warm by imbibing other “spirits”.
I later realized he had given a spiritual answer after all – Advent really is “duck” season. Continue reading “Reflections on the Season of Advent”
Reflections on the Sunday Next Before Advent
On this transition Sunday between Trinitytide and Advent, we have a Gospel which is also from mid-Lent: St. John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000. It is used today for its closing words: “this is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” They refer to a passage from Dt. 18:18-19.
These words of Moses were plainly Messianic, for only one would fulfil this announcement of his successor. St. Peter in Acts 3:22 and St. Stephen in Acts 7:37 recognize the fulfillment of Moses’ words. It is expounded as well in Hebrews 3:2-6. This was clearly part of the Apostolic preaching and teaching, which shows the importance of Moses’ prophecy. Continue reading “Reflections on the Sunday Next Before Advent”
Reflections on the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
According to the preserved accounts of Holy Tradition, The Presentation or Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Mother of God happened in the following manner:
The parents of the Virgin Mary, Righteous Joachim and Anna, in praying for a divine solution to their childlessness, gave a vow that if a child were born to them, they would dedicate it to the service of God.
When the Blessed Virgin reached three years of age, her holy parents decided to fulfill their vow. Having gathered together their kinsfolk and acquaintances, and having dressed the Mary in her finest clothes, singing Psalms and with lighted candles in their hands, they carried her to the Jerusalem Temple. There Zacharias the priest (father of the Forerunner John) and others of the priests of the Temple met the maiden of God.
In the Temple, the stairway led up fifteen high steps. The Child Mary, it seemed, could not herself make it up this stairway. But just as they placed her on the first step, strengthened by the power of God, she quickly made it up over the remaining steps and ascended to the highest.
Then the high-priest, through an inspiration from above, led Mary into the Holy of Holies, where only the high-priest entered one time a year with a purifying sacrifice of blood. Therefore all those present in the Temple were astonished at this most unusual occurrence.
As St. Theophylact writes:
“At that time, the High Priest was in ecstasy, filled with the Spirit of God, and understood that the maiden was the dwelling place of divine grace and more worthy then he to stand always before God’s countenance. He remembered that the Law commended the Ark be placed in the Holy of Holies and straightway perceived that this ordinance pertained to the maiden.”
Righteous Joachim and Anna, having entrusted their Child to the will of the Heavenly Father, returned home. The Blessed Virgin remained in the dwelling for the virgins consecrated to God, situated near the Temple.
The earthly life of the Mother of God from the time of her infancy to the time of her assumption to heaven is shrouded in deep mystery. Her life at the Jerusalem Temple was also a secret. “If anyone were to ask me, — said St. Jerome, — how the Most Holy Virgin spent the time of her youth, — I would answer: that is known to God Himself and the Archangel Gabriel, her constant guardian”.
But in the Church tradition there were preserved accounts, that during the time of the stay of the All-Pure Virgin at the Jerusalem Temple, she grew up in the community of pious virgins, read diligently the Holy Scripture, occupied herself with handcrafts, prayed constantly and grew in love for God. In remembrance of the Presentation, Holy Church from ancient times established a solemn feast day.
It likely originated in Syria where the source text of the Protoevangelium of James was possibly produced in the early 2nd century.
The feast of the Presentation into the Temple of the Most Holy Mother of God — foretells the blessing of God for the human race, the preaching of salvation, the promise of the coming of Christ.
It also shows forth that from henceforth the true Temple of the Living God was no longer made of stones, but was the Blessed Virgin herself, and by extension, all who keep the commandments of Christ. She is truly the Mother of all Christians, and the restoration of blessedness especially to all women who venerate her as the New Eve – the One who reversed the disobedience of her first mother by her holy obedience and submission to the will of God.
St. Gregory of Palamas writes:
“She was led into the Holy of Holies not just once, but was accepted by God to dwell there with Him during Her youth, so that through Her, the Heavenly Abodes might be opened and given for an eternal habitation to those who believe in Her miraculous birthgiving.”
And so we ever quote the Angel Gabriel and St. Elizabeth and pray:
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.