The Transfer of the Precious Relics of Our Venerable Father Theodosius, Hegumen of the Monastery of the Caves at Kiev (1091); Fore-feast of the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God; Holy Prophet Micah (8th c. BC)
Poleyleos Feast. Dormition Fast.
Read
Hebrews 13:7-16; Matthew 11:27-29
Today Jesus reminds us of his Divine Lordship: “All things have been delivered to me by my Father.” The Father, as an act of love, gives all things to the Son; therefore, the Son is ‘true God from true God.’ For without being equal in divinity the Son would not be able to receive all that the Father is and has. Only the Son knows the Father fully, deeply and truly; therefore, the Son is the only one who can reveal the Father. God desires that we come to know Him through His Son. We see this throughout salvation history, which has been a movement of revelation starting with one person, moving to family, to a tribe, expanding to a nation and through the incarnation of the Son of God the whole world: All are invited to come to know the one true God.
Our heart is heavy laden and restless trying to fill a void, which only the true God can satisfy. The Lord promises rest and we can first experience it in this life as the peace which surpasses all understanding. It is the peace of the Holy Spirit and the Lord desires to gift to all those who receive Him with their whole heart. His promise of rest does not end there but reaches even greater heights in eternity with the gift of the Heavenly Kingdom. Eternal rest in the Kingdom awaits all those who heed our Lord’s call to, ‘Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’