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We, Too, Should Be a Living Ark of God -- The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
On the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple, Fr. Matthew Howell discusses how the Virgin Mary shows us once again the path to salvation and deification. He explains how Mary is the living temple of God and how we are called to be His temple as well. Mary is also called the Living Ark, and Fr. Matthew explains how the ark held the manna, the tablets of the law, and Aaron's rod that budded. He then calls us to be Living Arks of God by holding the Scriptures within our hearts, receiving the Living Bread from Heaven in the Eucharist, and submitting to the Church through the bishops and priests. He wraps up by touching on the Old Testament readings for the feast from Great Vespers the night before from Exodus 40, 3 Kings 8, and Ezekiel 43-44, all of which finish with a line about the temple being filled with the glory of the Lord.
Previous Homilies for the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple:
- November 21, 2024: We Should Offer God a Continual Sacrifice of Worship – The Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple
- November 20, 2024: A Beautifully Simplistic Feast – Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
- November 19, 2023: Contentment, Thanksgiving, and the Glory of God
- November 20, 2022: A Relatable Feast
- November 21, 2021: Into the Temple of the Lord Goes the Living Temple of the Lord
Epistle: 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.Gospel: Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
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By Fr. Matthew HowellOn the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple, Fr. Matthew Howell discusses how the Virgin Mary shows us once again the path to salvation and deification. He explains how Mary is the living temple of God and how we are called to be His temple as well. Mary is also called the Living Ark, and Fr. Matthew explains how the ark held the manna, the tablets of the law, and Aaron's rod that budded. He then calls us to be Living Arks of God by holding the Scriptures within our hearts, receiving the Living Bread from Heaven in the Eucharist, and submitting to the Church through the bishops and priests. He wraps up by touching on the Old Testament readings for the feast from Great Vespers the night before from Exodus 40, 3 Kings 8, and Ezekiel 43-44, all of which finish with a line about the temple being filled with the glory of the Lord.
Previous Homilies for the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple:
- November 21, 2024: We Should Offer God a Continual Sacrifice of Worship – The Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple
- November 20, 2024: A Beautifully Simplistic Feast – Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple
- November 19, 2023: Contentment, Thanksgiving, and the Glory of God
- November 20, 2022: A Relatable Feast
- November 21, 2021: Into the Temple of the Lord Goes the Living Temple of the Lord
Epistle: 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.Gospel: Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28At that time, Jesus entered a village; and a woman called Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving; and she went to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve you alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her." As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts that you sucked!" But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"