Evening
St. Matthew 20: 1-16
Morning
Numbers 28: 1-8
I Samuel 21: 1- 9
Acts 14: 8 – 22
I Corinthians 16: 13-24
St. Matthew 11: 25-12: 8
Annunciation to the Virgin is one of the most important feasts in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, so important that the Holy Qurbana must be held on this day even if March 25th also happens to be Good Friday! (The Holy Liturgy is otherwise prohibited on Good Friday since the Church celebrates the death of Christ; in fact, the altar is stripped of all altar vessels and covered in black on Good Friday.)
Six months after John the Forerunner’s conception, the Archangel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth, a town of Galilee, unto Mary the Virgin, who had come forth from the Temple a mature maiden (see Nov. 21). According to the tradition handed down by the Fathers, she had been betrothed to Joseph four months. On coming to Joseph’s house, the Archangel declared: “Rejoice, thou Full of Grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.” After some consideration, and turmoil of soul, and fear because of this greeting, the Virgin, when she had finally obtained full assurance concerning God’s unsearchable condescension and the ineffable dispensation that was to take place through her, and believing that all things are possible to the Most High, answered in humility: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.” And at this, the Holy Spirit came upon her, and the power of the Most high overshadowed her all-blameless womb, and the Son and Word of God, Who existed before the ages, was conceived past speech and understanding, and became flesh in her immaculate body (Luke 1:26-38). Her humility blessed her to be the God-bearer. Her womb carried the One whom even the heavens and earth could not contain. Her life, even though it was one of pain and suffering, became a blessing to others, because of her humility. One of the hymns in the Church portrays her as the highest example of humility: “In whom indeed shall I dwell but in the gentle and humble? He looked upon her and dwelt in her who was humble among the children of men; for none was ever so humble as Mary, and it is manifest that none was ever so exalted as she was” (Aarum uyarthappettillithu pol athinaal spashtam Mariyame pol aarum thaazthappettittilla).
Bearing in her womb the Uncontainable One, the blessed Virgin went with haste from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea, where Zacharias had his dwelling; for she desired to find Elizabeth her kinswoman and rejoice together with her, because, as she had learned from the Archangel, Elizabeth had conceived in her old age. Furthermore, she wished to tell her of the great things that the Mighty One had been well-pleased to bring to pass in her, and she greeted Elizabeth and drew nigh to her. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, she felt her six-month-old babe, Saint John the Baptist, prophesied of the dawning of the spiritual Sun. Immediately, the aged Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and recognized her as the Mother of her Lord, and with a great voice blessed her and the Fruit that she held within herself. The Virgin also, moved by a supernatural rejoicing in the spirit, glorified her God and Savior, saying: “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior,” and the rest, as the divine Luke hath recorded (1:39-55)
“Shlomo, Peace be unto thee,”
Said Gabriel,
“Our Lord is with thee;
Blessed art thou among women. [Luke 1.28]
I have left Him above, but found Him with thee.
He Whom you are bearing,
Who bears the whole creation.”
We are reminded today to follow the path obediently taken up by the God-bearer. We all are called to be God-bearers. We are called to bring Christ into this world which is so in need of His love, and carry Him with us wherever we go, whether it is in our homes, schools, work or parishes. But it is only if we repent and let go of our ego that we can allow Christ to dwell in us, like in the Virgin. Elder Paisios who is known for his ascetic life and gentle manner, once said, “Ask for repentance in your prayer and nothing else, neither for divine lights, nor miracles, nor prophecies, nor spiritual gifts – nothing but repentance. Repentance will bring you humility, humility will bring you the Grace of God, and God will have in His Grace everything you need for your salvation, or anything you might need to help another soul” (The Epistles of Elder Paisios). If we call upon the Lord, He will answer. “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18). May this Lenten journey be one that helps us put our ‘self’ aside, leaving room for Christ to dwell in us, leading us to a humble life similar to one shown to us by the Mother of God – a life that allows us to bring Christ into today’s world.
Prayer: Lord, grant me the humility to put myself aside and humble myself before you and those around me. Help me put my ego away and submit myself to become a God-bearer. Grant me a humble heart that will allow you to use my life as an instrument to bring Christ into this world. Teach me to submit my life to praise the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.