“Be it unto me according to thy word.” With astonishment we contemplate the mystery of freedom, before which every person stands, and which is fully revealed in the events of the Annunciation. Human freedom—even where there is grace—can be tempted by satan. First of all, there is the temptation of human nature itself—from its limitedness and infirmity to its ambition, self-deception, and pride. There is the temptation of faithlessness, because it is truly hard to believe that this will happen. Or there is the temptation of pride. Once Lucifer, the highest of the angels, because he was so close to God was tempted by the great abundance of gifts he had received from God, and therefore fell from heaven. So much more natural, it would seem, is it for the weak human mind and heart to be tempted! If She had for but one moment admired in herself this gift of God, the good tidings would not have been received and the Annunciation would not have happened. And, there is the temptation of weakness. Because it is natural for man to desire well-being and repose and to refuse such a path that would require a constant crucifixion and giving of oneself. If she had in her thoughts even been frightened of this or wished to use the advantages of this gift for herself, then the good tidings would not have been received and the Annunciation would not have happened. The Most Pure Virgin Mary’s answer is the joyful, prayerful concentration of all ages of Christian sanctity; the fate of every person, into which we are all called to delve. Let everyone who turns his mind and heart to the Lord always stand before this mystery, and with thankfulness witness the joy of today’s feast. The Annunciation has happened. “Be it unto me according to thy word.” She pronounces these words, and God fills them with His divine, gracefilled power. She touches the heights and the depths that until then no one had touched, which was hitherto unknown by any of the greatest saints out of the whole human race. And what is revealed to her surpasses everything she knew about God. She prays to Him, and her “Be it unto me” is immediately, at that very moment, received by God. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit and the strength of her virtues, which are marked by the words, “Be it unto me”, something new is revealed for all people; something new is wrought with the Most Pure Virgin Mary, with her soul and body. And to all mankind is revealed the newness of the life that is in God. The will of God is fulfilled on earth for all people. On the feast of the Annunciation let us examine ourselves, whether we respond to God’s call for our lives according to the example of the Mother of God? This agreement will give us the courage to see where our strength is and where our is weakness; to understand every seemingly hopeless circumstance; to accept this person, this child, these parents, this companion, this faithfulness—this cross. So that we would not forget that between us there is always present this all-deciding conversation on the heavenly, ultimate heights. And God waits for when the doors separating us from each other might be thrown open. There is no other way, no other path besides the one that God offers. “Be it unto me according to thy word.”

Announcements

Birthdays: Vickie P. (25th); Janet Mc. (29th); Anne Marie (29th), Max D. (31st); John G. (31st) Namesdays: Mary, Gabriel, Matrona, Innocent Anniversary: Many Years!

Services This Week: Weds., 6pm - Presanctified Liturgy Fri., 8am - Presanctified Liturgy Saturday, 8am - Liturgy: Lazarus Sunday Evenings of Lent Tonight: “Mission Vespers”, 6pm - St. John’s, Pueblo

Youth Meet Saturday after Vespers Contact Dn. Gregory: [email protected]

Moms: Tuesdays, 9:30am Contact Margaret Combs: [email protected]

Ladies Study - Thursdays, 9a.m. Men’s Study Group - Fridays, 6:30a.m. -

Blessed are those who manage to imitate the humble earth, which, while it is stepped on by everyone, lifts everyone with its love and nurtures them with affection like a good mother, which has also provided the material for our flesh. It accepts with joy anything we throw away, good fruits as well as dirty trash, converts them quietly into vitamins and, with its fruits, offers them back plentifully to both good and evil people, without discrimination. It profits nothing for someone to scrape his knees with countless prostrations, if he does not, at the same time, rub his face with humility. He who seeks humility from God but does not accept the person that God sends him so as to humble him, doesn’t know what he is asking for, for virtues are not purchased like groceries. Rather, God sends us people for us to be tested, to exert ourselves, acquire virtues, and be crowned. - St. Paisios the Athonite: “Imitate the Humble Earth” An ascetic prayed to God to reveal to him many mysteries. Leaving his cell to go to another village, he met an angel on the way, but he didn’t recognize him. He thought the angel was a human being. On the way they came upon a dead horse. The ascetic held his nose, the angel did not. They went on further and they passed a dead cow which stunk. Again the ascetic held his nose, the angel did not. They went on and came upon a dead dog; the ascetic held his nose, the angel did nothing. When they were about to come to the village, they met a beautiful girl dressed in beautiful clothes and jewelry. Then the angel held his nose. Seeing this, the ascetic said: “What are you - angel, human, or devil? We met a dead horse which stunk and you didn’t hold your nose. The same was true with the cow and the dog. I didn’t see you hold your nose. Now that we’ve met such a beautiful girl, you hold your nose?” The Angel then revealed himself and said: “Nothing stinks to God more than pride.” And saying this, he disappeared. The ascetic immediately turned back to his cell and cried for his sins, praying to God to guard him from the snares of the devil and not to allow him to fall victim to pride and be lost.

Holy Theophany Orthodox Church + 2770 N. Chestnut St. Colo. Springs, CO 80907 (719) 473-9238 Fr. Anthony Karbo Fr. Simeon Johnson Fr. Panayiotis Tekosis Dn. Gregory Jewett [email protected]

Annunciation March 25th, 2018 Heb. 9:11-14 Mark 10:32-45 Lent resembles the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, though with one big difference: Muslims actually take Ramadan seriously. - from a recently published article in the Boston Globe -