Redeeming The Time

We ask on the feast of Dormition, what is the purpose of this feast. This is a general question, and not about the theology of the feast and the historical event. It deserves a spiritual answer. Why do we come to church today? We have just finished reading the selection from the Gospel of Luke, about Mary going into the hill country and greeting Elizabeth, 14 days in a row, since it is part of the Paraclesis service (service of supplication, when the supplicatory canon to the Theotokos is swung in sweet melody; we serve it every day during the Dormition fast). We also read it during matins for the feast, as we do for all the feasts of the Mother of God. It tells us of a holy moment, which should be our ultimate goal. Let us meditate for a little while in wonder, mixed with desire and regret, on the important words from Luke: "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."