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Tuesday Theotokia Lobsh

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monakho

posted on Dec 23, 2003 - 02:48 AM

What bodily tongue,
Can describe you,
O holy Virgin,
And Mother of God.

“…but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.” 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

What a delight it is to reflect on the unimaginable nature of the heavenly state which we will live in, moreover the great glory that the Virgin Mary will be in amongst all the saints. One may consequently ask how is my life lived now? In the hope, anticipation and delight of the heavenly life, or in the love of the world and its vanities? Let the glory of the Virgin and the saints be a reminder for you oh my soul, that real glory comes from knowing, obeying, loving, and serving God, rather than from any other worldly source, and let your heart always be where the real treasure is.

Joined: Dec 14, 2003 | Posts: 14
Location: Church of the Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius, Mississauga, Canada

coptichymnsman

posted on Dec 23, 2003 - 05:37 AM

what a beautiful topic you have opened monakho, and by the way, welcome to the site..

Joined: Apr 21, 2003 | Posts: 389
Location: Sydney Australia NSW

monakho

posted on Dec 24, 2003 - 04:26 AM

For you became,
A royal throne for the One,
Who is carried,
By the Cherubim.

Blessed indeed are you oh Virgin Mary, for you were like a royal throne beautifully adorned with virtues, bearing the Son of God, our God. This brings to mind the moments when we partake of the Holy Eucharist. For in a different sense, we too become bearers of Christ: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” John 6:56

Our praise for St. Mary becoming a royal throne for God can serve to remind me of what type of throne I offer Christ when I receive Him in the Eucharist. St. Mary bore Christ in all humility and without pride. Among the countless other things we can learn from St. Mary in preparing to receive Christ, how much more am I in need of offering a throne of humility, attentiveness, and diligence to Christ in the Eucharist?

It is also interesting to learn what we can from some monks who will depart in silence and peace after receiving communion, avoiding disturbances that could spoil their concentration on Christ.

Joined: Dec 14, 2003 | Posts: 14
Location: Church of the Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius, Mississauga, Canada

monakho

posted on Dec 25, 2003 - 05:29 AM

By what means can we bless you,
For you were exalted,
Above all the highest,
And rational natures.

“…for the Father chose you, and the Holy Spirit overshadowed you, and the Son condescended and took flesh from you.” Agpeya, Prime Litany

Indeed it is difficult to bless St. Mary, after contemplating how God has blessed and exalted her. For God chose her in the fullness of time in order to bring about the wonderful divine plan to save the human race.

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

What an honor it was for our Lady the Mother of God to be a participant with God in the fulfillment of something unprecedented that would affect every human being ever to exist. From this we can learn of the honor which accompanies every service we do, in which the Holy Trinity uses us to touch the life of another person.

Joined: Dec 14, 2003 | Posts: 14
Location: Church of the Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius, Mississauga, Canada

monakho

posted on Dec 26, 2003 - 06:13 AM

Your name is remembered,
Throughout all ages,
O beautiful dove,
And Mother of Christ.

St. Mary the beautiful dove was the very embodiment of Christian peace. Throughout her entire life, beginning from the annunciation, to the various pre and post nativity hardships, throughout the upbringing and ministry of our Lord, and finally through the painful journey of Christ’s passion, she lived with peace from above.

Like the dove that brought the olive branch which was a sign of peace to Noah, so also St. Mary was the dove that bore Christ who is our peace, and He brought to the world God’s peace and reconciliation with humanity.

Joined: Dec 14, 2003 | Posts: 14
Location: Church of the Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius, Mississauga, Canada

monakho

posted on Dec 27, 2003 - 05:36 AM

Rejoice O Mary,
The handmaiden and mother,
For He who is on your lap,
The angels praise.

Christ’s incarnation presented a huge paradox. God the exalted and most high emptied Himself and condescended to take flesh, live amongst us and be treated like a human being. The Omnipotent and Omniscient sat on your lap and depended on your love and care, O mother of God. Thus Christ our Lord has overturned the sinful expectations and standards of man, by coming not as one who is rich or part of an elite social class, but as a meek and lowly servant. Therefore those of us who are wise in their own eyes and self-reliant deprive themselves of the freedom and blessings of humility.
“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.” 1 Corinthians 1:27

Joined: Dec 14, 2003 | Posts: 14
Location: Church of the Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius, Mississauga, Canada

monakho

posted on Dec 28, 2003 - 05:47 AM

And the Cherubim,
Worship Him befittingly,
And the Seraphim,
Without ceasing.

They flap their wings,
Saying “This is the king of glory,
Who carries the sins of the world,
According to His great mercy.”

And we too,
Hope to win mercy,
Through your intercessions,
With the Lover of mankind.

The Cherubim are a model for us in the worship of God. Christ tells us how to worship befittingly in conversing with the Samaritan woman: “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” John 4:23

Dear Heavenly Father, I beg you as your disciples once did; teach me how to pray.

The Seraphim offer a delightful model of prayer that is in accordance with St. Paul’s words, “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

What an honor it would be my Lord, if I could learn to join the Seraphim in praising you frequently throughout my daily affairs, until I learn to pray without ceasing. You have shown us that the path of humility and service is a path of glory, by being the King of glory and yet carrying our sins!

Examining ourselves, we find that we are in dire need of God’s mercy, so we call on you O pure mother of light, to intercede for us, that Christ may grant us His mercy.

Joined: Dec 14, 2003 | Posts: 14
Location: Church of the Virgin Mary & St. Athanasius, Mississauga, Canada

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