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 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.
Reflections on the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
“that we, being ready both in body and soul; may cheerfully accomplish those things that thou wouldest have done.”
The Church takes care to remind us that our eternal destiny is the matter of greatest importance; to hold before us the necessity of readiness to give our solemn account before the dread judgment seat of Christ; to impress us with the great value of being peacefully and penitently ready to make our last and most important journey. We are to take the business of dying seriously; to be “deeply sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of human Iife”. Continue reading “Reflections on the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity”
Reflections On the Wrath of God
Now that Inquirers classes have begun again in earnest at my parish, one of the most frequent questions I am posed is “what is the wrath of God”? As I consider Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon to be a modern-day Father of the Church, I will let him answer here with some quotes from his excellent book Christ in the Psalms. (I am convinced that Fr. Patrick has a photographic memory, and that he never sleeps.) These are from his comments on Psalms 5 and 6. I have included his concluding thoughts on Psalm 6, which deal with sin, death and Satan – all enemies of our souls and bodies. And ending on a note of faith and hope. Continue reading “Reflections On the Wrath of God”
Reflections on the Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity
We began our existence as humans in Paradise with a commandment from God. It was a simple commandment which involved a fast. Thou shalt not eat of the fruit of this tree. The man and woman who had been created in the image of the Word and Son of God, were intended to gain their knowledge through obedience and a simple ascetical commandment. Continue reading “Reflections on the Eighteenth Sunday After Trinity”
Reflections on the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
Eph. 3:16-19 is the prayer of every pastor for those he serves, and the verses speak to the state of our souls. They should cause us to consider: are we prepared? Continue reading “Reflections on the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity”
Reflections on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
As Orthodox we are often asked about our devotion to the Mother of God. Most protestants think we are extreme in our observance of her feasts and her life, and in our desires for her prayers. Continue reading “Reflections on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Reflections on the Transfiguration
If you read the accounts of the Transfiguration in the three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—you will see that it is prefaced by the scene at Caesarea Philippi in which Jesus asks His disciples the question, “Who do men say that I am?” After the familiar words of St. Peter’s confession of faith, the Transfiguration is immediately prefaced by the words in St. Matthew: “Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste of death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Mark has it, “before they see the kingdom of God come with power,” and Luke, simply, “before they see the kingdom of God.” Continue reading “Reflections on the Transfiguration”