Daily Devotion to the Theotokos

 Seventeenth Day of the Month

"While He was speaking...someone said to Him, 'Thy mother and brethren are standing outside and wish to speak with Thee'. But He answered, 'who is my Mother, and who are my brethren?… Whoever does the will of My heavenly Father is My brother and sister and My mother."  (Matthew 12:46-50)

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When you came seeking to find your Son, and He was told that His (mother desired to see Him, He replied, "The one who does the will of my Father, is my mother...."

Who else has so completely obeyed the will of God in such purity and love as you have, O Theotokos? Therefore, you are twofold the Mother of Christ. You are His mother because you truly gave Him birth and you are His mother because you were, above all other humans, the instrument for fulfilling His will. Those who are spiritual and believing understand how you are His mother twice, once according to the flesh, and again by your complete submission to the will of the Father.

We know Most Pure one, that we can never rise to your height. You were the one chosen by Him out of all ages and generations to be the sacred vessel of His incarnation. Yet, He Himself compares us with you, saying that we, too, can become as mother and brother to Him, by obeying God's will. How can this be, blessed mother; help us to understand.

Come, Orthodox people and let us contemplate this mystery prayerfully.

Apostle Paul says, "I am in labor pains until Christ be formed in you", and Christ promised that He would come and dwell in us. If we obey the will of God, we will receive the word of the Gospel in our hearts, and Christ will make his presence felt in us. If we will nourish this presence of Christ with prayer and fasting and following the way of life He has revealed to us in His Church, then it will grow and develop within us like a babe in a mother's womb. Christ will be spiritually formed in us, just as He was physically formed in the Virgin's womb. It is up to us to obey the will of God, to fulfill all that He has taught us through His Holy Orthodox Church. In this way, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, we may hope to hear Him say to us, "Behold, my mother and my brethren," when He appears again on that Great and Holy Day.

Think, O Christian, of the greatness of the most blessed and ever virgin Mary, and of the greatness of the mystery which has been revealed through her. God dwelt in her both bodily and spiritually, transforming her from within, and He overshadowed her with the Holy Spirit transforming her from without. We see then that He truly means it when He promises us that He will dwell in us and transform us if we will receive Him and obey His will.

It is difficult for us fallen humans to obey the will of God, and we need help in the midst of our passions and temptations, so let us turn to the one in whom these promises were most perfectly fulfilled, and ask for her prayerful help, saying:

Most Holy and Ever-Virgin Theotokos, bearer of God the Word, enlighten my darkened soul that I may understand the glory of your childbearing. Teach me to perceive the wondrous mystery that took place in you so that I may understand what can take place in me. Help me to struggle to learn and fulfill the will of God and to commit myself to Him and His Holy Orthodox Church. Guide me along the path of this life, beset by many traps and temptations, so that I may become a temple, cleansed and prepared, as you were, so that the King of Glory will come and find His kingdom within me. O bearer of the Light and palace of the Eternal God, help me to imitate you so that our God and Saviour will take up an abode in me and save me.