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BEGIN:VEVENT
SUMMARY:1st day of 8 day Fast
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260831T183000Z
DTEND;VALUE=DATE-TIME:20260901T183000Z
UID:201747162184
DESCRIPTION:Vishudha Grantha Vayanakurup (JSC 2017) suggests the readings 
 for Suboro\n\nEvening:\nSt. Luke 8:16-21\n\nMorning:\nSt. Mark 3:31-35\n\n
 Before Holy Qurbana:\nDeuteronomy 26:16-27:10\nJudges 13:2-14\nZechariah 2
 :10-13\, 4:1-7\, 8:3\nIsaiah 63:15-64:5\n\nHoly Qurbana:\nI John 3:2-17\nH
 ebrews 6:13-7:10\nSt. Luke 1:26-38\n\nToday's Gospel pericope is the narra
 tive of the Annunciation to St. Mary.\n\nIt is only natural to attach feel
 ings of great joy to this miraculous event. However\, let us take a moment
  to reflect from another perspective. \n\nIn the scriptures we read many e
 xamples of individuals who were born of miraculous circumstances. In his '
 Commentary on the Gospel of Luke\,' St. Severus Moshe bar Kepha ♰ 903 wr
 ites on the distinction between the miraculous birth of Christ and the bir
 th of holy men such as the prophets. He says in relation to Luke 1:30: "be
 cause none of the barren or older women who gave birth found (grace) like 
 her [St. Mary]\, neither Sarah\, nor Rebecca\, nor Rachel\, nor Hannah\, n
 or Elizabeth. Equal grace was given to these barren and older women\, and 
 it was conferred on the bearers and their sons. But the grace that Mary fo
 und was only for her\, and not commonly for her and the one who was born f
 rom her. For this one who was born from her gives grace for others\, and d
 oes not receive grace\, just as John said\, “we have received from his f
 ullness." \n\nWhile noting the clear difference between the Incarnation of
  our Lord and the birth of many saints\, we still acknowledge that a mirac
 le has taken place. What then\, do we say about our married family and fri
 ends today who have not borne children? The pain of infertility cannot be 
 fully perceived by one who does not carry such a burden. In the scriptures
 \, miraculous conceptions occur to those who pray unceasingly and live a l
 ife of holiness. Is infertility then\, a reflection of lacking in holiness
  by a married couple? Certainly not! \n\nYet\, the self-realization of inf
 ertility not being a hallmark of sin does not minimize the impact infertil
 ity has on a couple\, especially in a community setting like the Church. I
 n her fantastic book\, 'Under the Laurel Tree: Grieving Infertility with S
 aints Joachim and Anna' author Nicole Roccas provides an observation of wh
 at most childless families experience in parishes\, "Orthodox couples with
  infertility encounter specific social and cultural challenges when naviga
 ting expectations surrounding childbearing and childlessness in the Church
 . These are intensified by the generational divides and non-Western cultur
 al mentalities that typically characterize Orthodox parish life." However\
 , she continues on a more positive note stating\, "On the other hand\, I m
 aintain that interactions like the one above also illustrate the best of w
 hat the Orthodox Church imparts to the human condition. They show an empat
 hy and honesty\, if meddlesome\, that is largely absent in mainstream atti
 tudes toward infertility."\n\nToday\, as we meditate on the Annunciation w
 hile fasting and seeking the Virgin's intercession\, take a moment to pray
  for those whom this gospel passage may be one of great difficulty. While 
 the Church celebrates the great revelation of life and birth\, many are re
 minded of their struggles in childbearing. Through the intercession of St.
  Mary Yoldath Aloho\, may they find comfort\, hope and thanksgiving in Chr
 ist.
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