Daily Devotion to the Theotokos

Second Day of the Month

“And the woman said, the serpent beguiled me and I ate. And God said to the serpent... I will make you and her seed enemies; He shall bruise your head and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:14-15)

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I weep in sorrow when I think of the wondrous paradise which we humans lost through sin.  

Now, we have fallen into bondage to that serpent, the Evil-One, whose name is Satan. O unhappy race that we are. We serve the devil who hates us, rather than God Who loves us.

But what is this promise which God made to our mother Eve, "your seed will crush the serpent's head"?

Do we have any hope? Will the power of Satan ever be crushed so that we might be free and walk with our God once more? When will we see that mother whose offspring will bruise the head of Satan, even as the Evil-One wounds His heel?

Think about these things, O believer, and call to mind the Holy Virgin Theotokos, that your heart might be comforted. Remember that her Child, Jesus Christ has truly bruised the head of that evil serpent, the devil, and crushed his power beneath the Cross. When Satan wounded the heel of Christ on the Cross, he did not understand that, on the Cross, Christ was crushing his head.

Do you now understand, that Mary is the new Eve, the new Mother of mankind, whose offspring has set us free from our bondage to the Evil-One?

That first gospel promise which God gave to Eve has been fulfilled through Mary. What joy fills our hearts when we think on these things and see the love and mercy of God; as we say to the Theotokos in awe:

How were you chosen to be that special spiritual Mother of mankind, that new Eve? The old Eve lived in Paradise, and became filled with disobedience because of pride. You, O Theotokos, lived in the temple and became completely obedient through humility and meekness. I glorify you, O Spotless Virgin, for through your pure faith and humility, my Savior was born into the world.

Seeing this great wonder and victory that has come forth through you, O Most Pure and Ever Virgin Mother, my soul humbly cries to you:

Most Holy Mother of Jesus Christ our God, pray to our Lord and Savior that I may find the path of humility and obedience through repentance. Pray for me, that the eyes of my heart may be opened to understand that, on the Cross, Christ crushed the head of the serpent to set me free from bondage to the Evil-One, into the hope of everlasting life.