Redeeming The Time

The typical reading at liturgy for feasts of the Theotokos is a curious composite selection of two events that did not occur in close proximity to one another. This fact must mean that the selection is teaching us something important about the Theotokos. We discuss the reading, which begins with the story of Mary and Martha, the complaints of Martha, and the answer of Jesus; it then segues to the cry of a woman in the crowd, and the answer of Jesus (usually not translated correctly): "Yea indeed, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it." We discuss why the Theotokos is so-called, and why we say "Most Holy Theotokos save us." It is all about the incarnation, and obedience, and the striving for holiness. We also discuss why the veneration of the Theotokos is very important in our increasingly impure society.