Be careful what you ask for!
Saint Matthew 7:7-8
Saint Matthew 7:7-8
Lovers of God Holy Martyr Mámas
St. John the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople
Intercede for us today
~ Fast Day ~
%20copy.jpg)
Mamas was born in Paphlagonia of renowned Christian parents, Theodotus and Rufina. His parents were cast into prison for Christ's name. His father died first in prison, and as soon as Rufina bore Mamas, she also died. Thus the newborn child was left alone between the dead bodies of his parents. However, God the Provider sent an angel to a noble widow, Ammia. Ammia saw the angel in a dream: he told her to go to the prison and take the child in. The local eparch granted Ammia permission to bury the dead and to take the child to her home.
When Mamas reached his fifth year, he began to talk and his first word was "Mama!'' for which he received the name "Mamas.'' In school, Mamas displayed unusual intelligence, and as he had been reared in a Christian spirit, he did not hide his faith, but confessed it to the other children and laughed at the idols.
During the reign of Aurelian there was a bitter persecution of Christians. The pagans did not even spare the Christian children. Mamas was fifteen years old when he was brought before the emperor. The emperor told him that he needed only to deny Christ verbally. Mamas replied: "Neither in my heart nor with my lips will I renounce my God and King, Jesus Christ.'' The emperor ordered him to be beaten, burned with torches, and finally thrown into the sea. But an angel of God saved him, and took him to a high mountain near Caesarea. There he lived in solitude and prayer. Even the wild beasts were tamed by his sanctity. He was finally discovered by his persecutors and subjected to torture again. When he had overcome torture both by fire and by wild beasts, St. Mamas was run through with a trident (icon) by a pagan priest. Thus he gave his holy soul to God, to Whom he had been faithful during all of his tortures. From his relics many healings of the sick have taken place. {Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His holy ones. Psalm 116:15}
🕀
THE EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL
THE EPISTLE OF THE HOLY APOSTLE PAUL
Galatians 4:8-21 KJV
8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.
12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.
13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.
14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.
16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.
18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.
19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,
20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?
🕀
THE HOLY GOSPEL ACCORDING TO
Saint Mark 6:45-53 KJV
45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.
46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.
49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:
50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE THEOTOKOS
Why should I make requests from and pray to the Virgin when I can pray directly to God?
Recall the wedding in Cana of Galilee
{Saint John 2:1-11 KJV}
There was no wine for the wedding feast so the Virgin alerted her Son, our Lord. Do you recall His response? Did He not say, “Woman what have I to do with thee, mine hour has not yet come.” {St. John 2:1-11} Yet, in spite of His response, she proceeds to tell the servants to do whatever Christ says as though she knew He would comply with her wishes. In this, do we not find confidence in our own petitions to God through His holy mother, the Ever-Virgin?
We should be elated ad infinitum that we can do so! However, we know that our requests will not be granted if they conflict with the will of the Father for even the Son of God seeks not His own will but the will of Him Who sent Him.
Question: If we entirely sacrifice our will for the will of our Father in Heaven, who are we?
No comments:
Post a Comment