The Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God; Holy Apostle Ananias, One of the Seventy Disciples; Our Venerable Father Roman Who Sang Sweetly (560)
Hebrews 9:1-7; Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28
Feast of the Mother of God. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
Read Hebrews 9:1-7
Today’s feast calls into focus the important place of the Mother of God in the protection of the people of God. The event which gave rise to this feast was a real historical event where the Mother of God protected an important Christian place in a time of invasion, however, the deeper meaning of the feast goes beyond that particular event. The Mother of God has incredible power and watches over us. At times, she enters into history and brings about dramatic signs and miracles.
All of this should be of no surprise to us. Look at how the Holy Scriptures speak of her!
This epistle reading from the letter to the Hebrews comments on important elements of Old Covenant worship. The Church presents this reading to us on this feast of Mary because it tells us something about Mary.
Most significantly, Mary is the Holy of Holies—the place where God dwells. She is the one whom the Father chose to carry His Incarnate Son in the womb. She was chosen from all of the women throughout all of history for this honour, and, even after carrying God in the flesh in utero, remains so full of grace and radiant with God’s presence, she remains the Holy of Holies—the place where God dwells.
On this feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, recall the central role that Mary took in our salvation when she accepted Christ into her womb. Recall how she has aided and assisted Christians in need throughout history. Recall how she has led you to her Divine Son, Jesus Christ.