Homily by Fr. Simon Ckuj on the Feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos

“Your nativity, O Virgin Mother of God, has made joy known to all the world, for from you dawned the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. He abolished the curse and gave the blessing; and by making death of no effect, He bestowed on us eternal life.”
Troparion of the Feast

The birth and early life of the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary, is not recorded in the Gospels or other books of the New Testament, however this information can be found in a work dating from the second century known as the Book of James or Protevangelion. This has become the Tradition of the Church. According to this book, Mary’s parents, Joachim and Anna, were childless for many years. They remained faithful to God, but their prayers for a child were unanswered. One day, when Joachim came to the temple to make an offering, he was turned away by the High Priest who chastised him for his lack of children. To hide his shame, Joachim retreated to the hill country to live among the shepherds and their flocks.

As Joachim was praying, his wife Anna was praying at the same time at their house in Jerusalem. An angel appeared to both of them and announced that Anna would have a child whose name would be known throughout the world. Anna promised to offer her child as a gift to the Lord. Joachim returned home, and in due time Anna bore a daughter, Mary.

In today’s feast we see the newly born girl and the mystery of how great the love of God is. The Nativity of The Theotokos reminds us that She rises like the sun, the child Mary shines in the world as miracle of God, greater than the heavens, preparing to give birth to Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. This little child will become the Intercessor of humanity. She is but a tiny babe, pressed to the breast of the grandmother of the Lord, preparing to become the sanctified temple and spiritual paradise.

The Ever Virgin Mary is a church, because she was able to contain and give rest to the Heavenly King. She is the temple of eternity, because in her God Himself was clothed in humanity. She is the temple of the Son of God because she bears and cradles in her arms, Him Who came to save mankind. But even more than a temple, the Mother of God is a spiritual, mystical paradise, which speaks of man’s highest calling to eternal love. The Theotokos is the source of this love because she desires us to be united with God.

We all love to celebrate a birthday and milestones in the lives of our family, friends, and those whom we hold dear. We enjoy celebrating their achievements expressing our joy at their life’s journey, rejoicing when they rejoice. We bring gifts to mark this happy occasion. Today is no different, and yet it is, due to the greatness of the one we are celebrating: Mary, the Mother of God.

The greatest gift we can bring is a good-natured heart, and a pure life untainted by sin. To praise Mary who was to become the Mother of the Son of God we must have the heart of a mother, the tenderness and patience of a mother, and the love and compassion of a mother for all.

Let us remember that the Mother of God is not simply an emblem or a story, but a person, who on this day was born in our very own flesh and blood, and who now stands beside the Throne of God in His Kingdom, Let us not only look to Her for hope, but run beneath Her protection, trusting in Her love and begging Her that She would not let us, Her helpless children perish. With joyous thoughts full of hope and with hearts full of mercy and humility let us raise up to Her with faith this short prayer: “O blessed Theotokos, open the doors of compassion to us whose hope is in you, that we may not perish but be delivered from adversity through you, who are the salvation of the Christian people.”

See also

October 8 Bishop Mykola Bychok Meets Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I August 5 Celebrating the 45th anniversary of St. Volodymyr’s Church in Wollongong July 3 Parish Feast in the Cathedral