Weekly Sunday Bulletin-October 2, 2016
A Devoted Heart
Dear friends of “A Devoted Heart” what a terrific class we had last Sunday laying down the foundation for the life of Jesus Christ through his grandparents Saints Joachim and Anna. Thank you to all that attended.
This Sunday we will be studying The Feast of the Annunciation of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary. The Feast commemorates the announcement by the Archangel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would become incarnate and enter into this world through her womb.
The biblical story of the Feast of the Annunciation is found in the first chapter of the Gospel of Luke 1:26-39. The Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary, who was living in Nazareth, and said to her, “Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you.” Mary was perplexed and wondered what kind of greeting this was. The angel told her not to be afraid, for she had found favor with God. He said, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
It is on the Feast of the Annunciation, that Orthodox Christians commemorate both the divine initiative of God, whereby He took on flesh from the Virgin for our salvation, and the human response, whereby Mary freely accepted the vocation offered to her. He elected to become man, and He desired to do this with the willing agreement of her whom He chose as His mother. Mary could have refused, for she was not a passive instrument, but an active participant with a free and positive part to play in God’s plan for our salvation. Thus, when on this and other feasts the Orthodox Church honors the Theotokos, not just because God chose her, but also because she herself chose to follow His will.
Is there something God has asked you to do and you haven’t said yes yet? Or if you did say yes, what was the result in your life?
We will be meeting in the church at 12:30 and we look forward to sharing and studying the scriptures with you.
For God’s Glory alone,
Helena and Christian
