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INTERPRETATION OF THE GOSPEL

SATURDAY AKATHIST PRAISE OF THE VIRGIN

Mk 35. 27-31

And Jesus went with his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi. The way he asked his disciples who people say I am? They answered, John the Baptizer, and others - for Elijah, but others - one of the prophets. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter said to him: Thou art the Christ. And he charged them that they should tell no man of him. He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

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Ascending to the passion of the cross, the Lord asked His disciples, whom people worship Him. He wants to know the opinion of the people in order to ask them a more important question: "Who do you say I am?" The disciples - the special relationship with Him. He chose them, and gave them teaching, hidden from the crowd. He takes them with him almost everywhere he sends them out to preach.They - the core of the future of the Church, where the Lord teaches their faith with greater or lesser success, because their hearts are fierce, and their lack of faith sometimes prevails over faith. Because the Lord and asks this question: "But who do you say I am?" Without a doubt, this is the main question. After his disciples the Lord asks him and us. And each of us has to give his personal response.

Peter says: "You - Christ." In some people mistook him for John the Baptist, others - for the prophet Elijah, and still others claim that arose another of the great prophets. People were on him the highest regard. Although they were far from the truth, but were convinced by seeing His miracles that He - a great man with God's gifts. No one followed the Pharisees did not say that He is a deceiver. Peter learned his Master Messiah, tea Israel. Those who profess the faith of the Church, at the beginning of the Gospel is called Simon. The Lord gave him a new name, symbolizing toughness. From the first day he makes a decisive choice. Together with his brother Andrew, he is - one of the first called by the Lord. In Capernaum the Lord stopped at his house. Along with James and John, he is witness to the resurrection of Jairus's daughter. It will be one of three choices on Mount Tabor. All the way Peter led him to this profession. To understand this profession, we need you to join with him - not just re-read, but through all the Gospel.

However, immediately after Peter's confession of God forbids disciples to talk about Him. They need to keep this messianic secret. And before the Lord forbade the demons, and He healed people and witnesses of His miracles to proclaim it. And now the mystery takes on a new dimension. Messiah, whom many are beginning to recognize the Lord, according to the Jewish tradition, is not only a righteous man, but also a political liberator, a procession led armies. The Lord is afraid of the concept of Him, it is not appropriate to God's plan. Worst of all, if His disciples followed this error. The Lord does not say to them, 'I am the Christ. " He uses a different expression: "Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again" - for heavenly life.

In the words of the Lord is something that is common to all people and at the same time applies only to Him. He tells them about the Son of Man. And we know that every son of man must suffer many things. We know that one way or another, no matter what name was the son of man, there are always times when it is subjected to disgrace the name. Always there are moments when he is rejected.Rejected by those who would have to admit it. "Son of man must suffer many things." This is the fate of the Son of Man, every son of man who one day will lose everything on earth, even the name. But it is the fate common to all, also belongs solely to God. Son of man - is the one who will one day be obesslavlen, but also the one who will arise in the future. That's what belongs to the Son of Man - who now says to his disciples, and those whom He calls. Because he, like them, may be cited as the Son of Man. It is always about the Cross and the Resurrection. And we are called to Him and in Him to be ready to accept any dishonor to like him for his gift, save our lives.

It is no accident Saturday Praise of the Virgin is the gospel sounds. We are called during Lent grace to know that "Christ - the Son of the living God." And it does not reveal to us the body and blood, not the external knowledge and wisdom, and not even the cleanliness of our hearts, and God alone. And the Mother of God reveals to us the secret. The Holy Church confesses that, just as through her God came to earth, and every man makes his way to God through Mother of Light - the Blessed and Most Blessed Virgin Most Pure. In the words of our holy days Silouan: "If it were not for the Mother of God, I would have perished in my sins." This is the witness of the whole Church, all the saints.

Her intercession - for all who die in sin, dishonor, and for all those unjustly persecuted. Her prayers for partaking of grace and truth, the Church brings praise to the Mother of God and of the Lord among the greatest sorrows. There is no greater gift and no greater service than to bring her praise to the Lord. When this is accomplished not praise one mouth, we learn unfathomable mystery of our salvation, that "Christ - the Son of the living God," and it truly is referred to as the Mother of God. In this confession - a joy that is not the world giveth, and God Himself. There is no greater comfort - to know that the Lord is with us, and that the Mother of God never departs from us. Blessed are those who, like unto the martyrs, elevate the suffering of praise to the Lord and the Mother of God for the gift to join the Cross of Christ.

Let it be given to us so to complete our post so that when suddenly opens Holy Week, and will be performed Judgement over all the earth, over our church, over each of us, we could not speak firsthand about Christ. And today, some say one thing about it, others - more, and many call him great. But few people know and confess that He is - the Son of the living God. Let it be given to us to hear of his suffering when He has no form nor kindness, and left all the words of the Mother of God: "For he is crucified, Thou art my Son and my God." On the day of the Resurrection of Christ offer together with the whole church, of heaven and earth, praise the Lord and the Mother of God for the unfathomable mercy of the human race, for all of us.

The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 9:1-7

BRETHREN, the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly sanctuary. For a tent was prepared, the outer one, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence; it is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain stood a tent called the Holy of Holies, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, which contained a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant; above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. These preparations having thus been made, the priests go continually into the outer tent, performing their ritual duties; but into the second only the high priest goes, and he but once a year, and not without taking blood which he offers for himself and for the errors of the people.

Luke, 54.10, 38-42, 11, 27-28

Then Jesus came into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house, she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word. Martha was distracted with much serving, and came and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me. Jesus said to her: Martha, Martha! you are anxious and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken from her.

When he had said this, one woman, lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked! And he said, Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.

Our Post is close to completion, and today brings the Church of the Most Holy Mother of God the praise. Holy Lent is the center of our life, the understanding of the divine mysteries, all the mysteries of our salvation, which we partake through the Mother of God. Church of Our Lady brings praise from the Archangel Gabriel, who tells her: "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women." It brings praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Righteous Elizabeth - the mother of all the more those born of women, which also calls her blessed and blessing.

During the Divine Liturgy on Sunday of Lent, when committed transubstantiation of the Holy Sacrament, we sing: "In Thee is happy, full of grace, all creation, angelic and the human race cathedral, consecrated the Temple of Heaven and verbal." This happens when the Church among us is blessed presence of Christ Himself His sacred Body and Blood.

When to sing this song of praise to the Mother of God, the priest prays the prayer of the whole Church. This prayer is all about, in distress and affliction own who, with all the men in prisons, in sickness and in suffering the bitter work, about all those with unclean spirits who die in sin. This prayer - of all the people whose names can not remember. But they all know the Lord, and all of them in memory Immaculate Mother of God, who prays for each person, and all the people brought to her by the face of the Church and the Church in the face of praise.

"For behold, from now on, all ye that My blessed parents," - says the Mother of God, and this prophecy is being fulfilled, so that for two thousand years, the entire human race unceasingly, every day brings praise of the Virgin Mary in the song that sounds at Matins: "Mother of God and Mother of the Light in songs magnify. " And we is something unusual that opens the Church of the person of the Mother of God, her extraordinary closeness to God.

One of the greatest people - the prophet Isaiah says, "Woe is me! I am undone! For I am a man of unclean lips ... - And my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts "(Isaiah 6, 5). When approaching us God, we can only speak with awe about the mouth of the Old Testament prophet. And the Mother of God in humility and at the same time professes unwavering confidence that all generations of mankind will bring her praise, to please her, and in these words sound kind of special, exceptional joy of victory, which will be given to all.

We know that our Church is holy, and those who perform deeds of true love, the Lord has always blessed. But so many generations, so that all mankind, always and incessantly! And not just for one great feat of the past, which is of crucial importance for all people, but also for the fact that her love and her love affairs is growing continuously - this human race, other than the Mother of God, does not know. The whole secret of life - in the inseparability of the twin commandment of love of God and neighbor. And today's Gospel - how that love begins, the consent of our good works and prayer.

Usually in Martha see the image of the active life, and Mary - the contemplative. And make the appropriate conclusion: those who devote themselves to the contemplative life, elect the best part.However, this view is, of course, requires clarification. If so, why the Lord has not chosen exclusively contemplative path? And we remember the mystery of the Last Judgement. The most precious in the sight of God will be a concrete manifestation of love throughout our lives. "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat I was thirsty and you gave me drink" (Mt 25, 35). However, not much to do for our fellow man, not enough to spare no effort for the sake of their well-being. This is not enough, because the most important thing is not the case. It is primarily as a relationship with those we know and love. Material goods that we can provide them, will never replace our understanding of them and our love towards them. We are concerned here with the extremely important dimension of human life.In every man there is a deep need for love - in making it, and in giving it. Love can not be bought. She - the quality of the heart and the gift of the heart. Speaking of Martha and Mary, the Gospel reminds us of the fundamental fact that we often overlook. It is not enough to do the right for those we love.We must also and above all to find time to be with them, to listen and to hear them, to live a life with them.

But today's Gospel opens up more. If we are to follow the Lord, we must be in communion with Him and hearing Him. His word - wealth. His teachings - the light of heaven. His presence - grace. The best part - it's Him and His word. Mistaken who, wanting to be a Christian, his head sinks into active and forget at the same time be close to the Lord, so that his work is meaningless. Mary "sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word." Heard his word! The three key words of the Gospel, we must keep in our minds: to listen to the word of God, the word of Christ. Of course, we do it, coming on Sundays and public holidays to worship and opening home gospel. But should not we ask ourselves, how we take this word? Whether it enlightens us as they should educate? Does it help us whenever life presents us with a choice of life and death, good and evil, do not hesitate to side with Christ? St. John Chrysostom tells us not to go out of the temple, not taking with him at least a few words heard in it, that could feed us and filled with meaning and joy in our work during the week. The Holy Fathers say that the Virgin as it was given once to hear the word of God, that it has become in her flesh. Do we remember about it, praying to the Virgin Mary? Do we hear her words to us: "Do whatever he tells you, do it"? (John 2, 5).

From the hearts of more and more tricked out praise and gratitude of the Mother of God, truly saving us all. For the praise of the Blessed Virgin Mary opens her deep humility: "Thou wilt indeed look at the humility of his handmaid, behold, from now on, all ye blessed my fathers." Who humbles himself will be exalted. Our Lady of Humility can be measured through the satisfaction of Her rise and the entire human race to ckonchaniya century and the infinite, the blessed eternity.

The more is revealed to us the humility and love of the Mother of God, the more we understand how inconceivably far are we from her perfection. But, bringing her praise, we can not see and the other values that Her "blessed all ye fathers." These mysterious words apply to us. This spiritual bond with her and our entry into the joy of the Lord is given to each of us. In order to bring praise to the Mother of God, we must understand what is at stake. Should at least a little light to shine, says this in an interview with Motovilov St. Seraphim of Sarov, who was the Mother of God during his life on earth twelve times. After his face shone brighter than the noonday sun on a winter glade Russian, Motovilov he said: "Fear not then, Your Reverence, and because you yourself are in the same light."

A person can not see the holiness of the other, if he is not involved in holiness, which is given only by the same Holy Spirit. And so to please the Mother of God, bring her praise - then mysteriously come into her fame in her eternal bliss. To enter, of course, still in the very small extent, on what we can only now, but always with the knowledge that we all Her glory bestowed salvation, her humility, her purity, her obedience, her intercession, her love. The praise of the Mother of God, we can only bring our measure hearing the word of God and obedience to him, but our humility, our cleanliness, our love.

Archpriest Alexander Shargunov

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