2nd Day of 8 day Fast

2nd Day of 8 day Fast

Vishudha Grantha Vayanakurup (JSC 2017) suggests the readings for Yaldo Evening: St. John 1:1-17 Morning: St. Luke 2:15-20 Before Holy Qurbono: Genesis 21:1-8 Job 19:21-20:4 Joshua 24:21-26 II Kings 4:8-17 Michah 5:1-8 Great Wisdom 8:19-9:3 Zachariah 2:10-3:10 Jeremiah 23:5-8 Daniel 2:31-47 Ezekiel 37:15-28 I Samuel 1:19-23 Isaiah 9:1-7 Holy Qurbono: I John 1:1-2:6 Galatians 3:23-26, 29:4-7 Ephesians 3:20-2 Matthew 2:1-12 Today's Gospel pericope is the narrative of the Magi's visitation and their offering of gifts to the Christ child. Despite polemical attacks on the contrary, the Orthodox Church has never bestowed upon St. Mary any position which isn't in accordance with Holy Scripture. When the Magi arrive, they find the One whom they "have come to worship" with His mother. The presence of St. Mary neither impedes worship of the True God nor does it diminish the glory of His person. Rather, the paradoxical mystery of Christ being borne by the Virgin merely confirms without doubt, that it was truly God whom received worship from the Magi. While not explicitly mentioned, it isn't hard to imagine that the Christ child was held in the arms of His mother in that moment, and we recognize the embodied prototype of the icon of St. Mary and child venerated by true believers for centuries. In his cycle of Nativity hymns, St. Simon the Potter (Mor Shem'un Quqoyo) gives voice to St. Mary, who gives confidence to the Magi to worship her son: "It was from the east of Paradise that the Magi came, bringing gifts; they entered in order to offer them to the Son, but were unable to, because of his splendour. His mother drew close to him and said: 'My Son, gather in the power of your splendour, let the Magi enter and offer you their gifts.'" As we meditate today on the Wonder that the Magi experienced seeing God as a babe in His mother's arms, let us have confidence that St. Mary will always point us to Christ; so that we may freely offer our gifts and worship the Son of God.