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Day 2

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke (2:33-35)

The father and mother of Jesus were amazed at what was said about the child Jesus;

and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,

“Behold, this child is destined

for the fall and rise of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be contradicted

(and you yourself a sword will pierce)

so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

From The Pierced Soul of the Theotokos by St. Nikolai Velimirovich

Who on this earth could even closely compare with the Lord in patient endurance of suffering except His Most-holy Mother?

The elder Symeon, adorned with snowy hair like a white swan, prophetically foresaw her future sufferings and likened those sufferings to a sword piercing her soul. One sword had pierced her soul when the righteous Joseph doubted her at the time of her pregnancy; the second, when she had to flee to Egypt before Herod’s sword; and the third, fourth and many, many others when she saw the hatred and intrigues of the Jewish elders against her Son day in and day out during the whole time of His preaching and miracle-working among men.

But the sharpest sword pierced her soul when she stood beneath the Cross of her Son and Lord. This sword was foreseen and prophesied to her by the holy, aged Symeon. Majestic and moving was her silence, beneath which she covered all her pains and all the wounds of her heart as with a veil.

In the twilight, all these countless pains that had accumulated in her most pure heart shone as an inextinguishable flame of faith and hope in God and dedication to God. This handmaid of the Lord, unsurpassable in nobility! She saw herself clearly in God’s plan for the salvation of mankind; she read about herself in the prophets; she spoke with the angels - God’s messengers. Therefore, all that came upon her, joy or pain, she knew came from God. She was not jubilant in her joy nor did she murmur in her pain, but rather she remained silent and laid it all up in her heart.

O Most-holy Virgin Theotokos, help us that we may be, like thee, submissive to the will of God. To thy Son and Lord, through thee, be glory and praise forever. Amen.

Musical Selection (Byrd)

Adorna thalamum tuum, Sion,

et suscipe Regem Christum:

amplectere Mariam, quae est coelestis porta:

amplectere Messiam gratulare huiusce matri:

ipsa enim portat Regem gloriae novi luminis:

subsistit Virgo, adducens manibus

Filium ante luciferum [genitum]:

quem accipiens Simeon in ulnas suas

praedicavit populis

Dominum eum esse vitae et mortis

et Salvatorem mundi.

Adorn thy bridal chamber, O Sion, and receive Christ the King:

embrace Mary, who is the gate of heaven,

[embrace the Messiah and congratulate this mother}

who herself truly brings the glorious King of new light.

She remains a virgin, though bearing in her hands a Son begotten before the daystar,

whom Simeon, taking him in his arms, proclaimed to the people

to be the Lord of life and death, and Saviour of the world.

Prayer

Lord, grant that the Church,

the chaste Bride of Christ,

may keep unbroken the New Covenant of love

and, like your humble handmaid,

who presented to you in the temple

the author of the New Law,

may the Church keep its faith unspotted,

grow in hope of heaven,

and deepen its heartfelt love for you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Presentation of the Lord; February 2)

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