The Conception of Saint Anna when she conceived the Most Holy Mother of God.
All-Night Vigil Feast. Nativity Fast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
Galatians 4:22-31; Luke 8:16-21.
Read Luke 8:16-21
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
We might be surprised to learn that Jesus’s family in many respects was no better than any other family, and on many occasions appeared to be not in sympathy with him. For instance, in Mark 3:21 his family members were ready to restrain Jesus, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” Therefore, when in Matthew 10:36 Jesus suggests his followers to be careful, since “one’s foes could be members of one’s own household”, He might have been speaking out of His own harsh experience.
We would probably be mistaken, if we conclude that He merely did not want to encounter his relatives, among which His mother was explicitly mentioned. Rather, the important thing that Jesus wanted to do was to emphasize that the spiritual bonds might be as strong or even stronger than the bond of blood, while the relationship of heart and mind might be much more meaningful than the relationships of physical kinship. Isn’t that true that we find much more in common with people with whom we share the same convictions, interests and goals than with some of our closest kins living under the same roof with us.
If we are ready to “listen to the word of God” and to act accordingly by the loyal submission of our will to that of our loving God, we can become God’s sons and daughters. We are no longer slaves or even just friends with Jesus, but we are indeed His true brothers and sisters, and because of that, we are the newly adopted members of God’s family. We are invited to participate in the life of the Holy Trinity not as strangers, but as those, who through Jesus Christ have been invited to the banquet as children and the hears of God’s Kingdom.
Bible References