The Synaxis of the holy and just grandparents of God, Joachim and Anna, parents of Mary the immaculate Virgin mother of God, the names of whom were preserved by the ancient traditions of Christians from the Jews. The couple lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They were childless into their old age and all their life they grieved over this. They had to endure derision and scorn, since at that time childlessness was considered a disgrace. They never grumbled, but fervently prayed to God, humbly trusting in Him. The prayer of the saintly couple was heard. An angel told them that a daughter would be born to them, Who would be blessed above all other women. He also told them that She would remain a virgin, would be dedicated to the Lord and live in the Temple, and would give birth to the Savior. Obeying the instructions of the heavenly messenger, Joachim and Anna met at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem. Then, as God promised, a daughter was born to them and they named her Mary. Joachim died a few years later at the age of 80, after his daughter went to live in the Temple. Anna died at the age of 70, two years after her husband.
The holy martyr Severian was a nobleman from Sebaste. He comforted the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (May 9) in their imprisonment. After their death in the year 320, he was also arrested, and hanged from a tree with stones hanging from his neck and from his feet.
The just couple who lived in a state of grace, Joachim and Anna, gave birth to this holy child for us. Therefore, the holy Church solemnly honors this feast in glory and celebrates your precious memory today. She glorifies God who has lifted up our horn of salvation in the house of David.
Your martyr Severian, O Lord our God, in his struggle received an incorruptible crown from You. With Your strength, he brought down the tyrants and broke the cowardly valor of demons. Through his prayers, O Christ our God, save our souls.
The chains of sterility are broken and Anna rejoices. She nurses the most pure Lady and invites us to sing with her to the Virgin Mother who is born for all people.
With a soul armed with courage, O God-wise one, you yourself were given over to various sufferings because you were enflamed with love of the Master, O truly wealthy one. Therefore, you accused the unjust torturer, O Severian, and you were given an incorruptible triumphal crown by God.
2 Corinthians 12:20 – 13:2
Brothers and sisters: I fear that when I come I may not find you to my liking, not may you find me to yours. I fear I may find discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, slander and gossip, self-importance, disorder. I fear that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may have to mourn over the many who sinned earlier and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and sensuality they practiced.
This is the third time I shall be coming to you. [Scripture says,] “A judicial fact shall be established only on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” I said before when I was there the second time – and I repeat it now in my absence – to those who sinned before and to all the rest, that if I come again I shall not spare you.
Mark 4: 24-34
The Lord said to his disciples: “Listen carefully to what you hear. In the measure you give you shall receive, and more besides. To those who have more, more will be given; from those who have not, what little they have will be taken away.”
He also said: “This is how it is with the reign of God. A man scatters seed on the ground.He goes to bed and gets up day after day. Through it all the seed sprouts and grows without his knowing how it happened. The soil produces of itself first the blade, then the ear, finally the ripe wheat in the ear. When the crop is ready he ‘wields the sickle, for the time is ripe for harvest.’”
Jesus went on to say: “What comparison shall we use for the reign of God? What image will help to present it? It is like mustard seed which, when planted in the soil, is the smallest of all the earth’s seeds, yet once it is sown, springs up to become the largest of shrubs, with branches big enough for the birds of the sky to build nests in its shade.” By means of many such parables he taught them the message in a way they could understand. To them he spoke only by way of parables, while he kept explaining things privately to his disciples.
Icon courtesy of Jack Figel, Eastern Christian Publications – ecpubs.com
Monday, September 8 –
