Archbishop Rowan Williams states in his book ‘Ponder These Things’, “when we look at the Hodegetria icon, the One who Points the way, we see the Theotokos addressing us with her eyes and what she has to say to us is articulated with her right hand. She introduces us to her Son; but the Child she shows to us is precisely a figure who gives His whole attention to her.” 

 

We cannot know the Theotokos without seeing her pointing to Jesus, and we cannot understand Christ without seeing His attention directing us to the Virgin Mary. When you meet Jesus; like any good son, He wants to introduce you to His mother, so you can know and love her.

 

It is tragic that many wonderful, faithful, and bible-believing Christians in the world have minimized the sacred passage in scriptures that reminds us to honor the Mother of God. For many Christians, the Virgin Mary is a forgotten person who shows up occasionally during a Christmas pageant. How can we forget the sacred vessel God used to bring Jesus to us? The bible tells us in Luke 1:48 that “from this day forward, all generations will call me (the Theotokos) blessed.”

When every generation considers the fact that the Virgin Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus, the Temple of the Most Holy of holies, overcome with the awe of this wonder, they will be left speechless, only being able to say, "Truly, she is blessed!!!"

 

For Orthodox Christians, we will never forget the Mother of God as she is pivotal in God’s ultimate plan for our salvation. By saying yes to Jesus, she became a vehicle for Christ’s saving presence in the world. We also, are called to participate in encouraging the salvation of others by loving challenging, praying and supporting others to walk in Christ.

 

The Theotokos is our model and example. She faithfully received Jesus by placing her trust in God. We are all to receive Christ as it says in John 1:12, “But to all who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to become children of God.” May we also, like the Panayia have the desire to receive Jesus fully into our hearts and become children of God.

 

She is our model for obedience. She was willing to fully submit herself to the will of God. She boldly proclaimed “Behold the maidservant of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). How fortunate we will be when we can faithfully say with a bold heart and mind, “Lord let it be to me according to your word.” 

 

We are called to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16). She presents herself in purity and holiness as she received God in the flesh. Shouldn’t we call her holy, the one who was able to house Christ in her womb?

 

St John Maximovitch said, “From Apostolic times to our days all who truly love Christ give veneration to Her who gave birth to Him, raised Him and protected Him in the days of His youth. If God the Father chose Her, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Her, and God the Son dwelt in Her, submitted to Her in the days of His youth, was concerned for Her when hanging on the Cross-then should not everyone who confesses the Holy Trinity honor her?

 

“Know and remember that the matter of your salvation is always near to the heart of the Theotokos, the Mother of God, for it was for this that the Son of God, by the favor of the Father and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, chose her out of all generations and was incarnate of her in order to save the human race from sin, the curse, and the eternal death, or everlasting torment. As the matter of our salvation is near to the Savior, so likewise it is near to her. Turn to her with full faith, trust and love.” St. John of Kronstadt

 

May we faithfully keep the fast and attend the Paraklesis services during the month of August.   May every generation call her blessed!!!

 

Blessings to all,

 

+Fr. Tom