19TH LORDS SUNDAY FROM RESURRECTION (Php 2: 5-11, Lk 10:38-42; 11:27-28)
This Lord’s Sunday has coincided with the festive Returns (Kidduluza ekisembayo) of the feast of falling asleep of Mary the Theotokos (Mother of God). That is why both the readings today are of the Feast, instead of the 19th Sunday. Every year, on the returns of this feast, we repeat all the hymns and the two readings, to emphasize the importance of the birth of Jesus Christ, while He is the eternal Word of God. Jn 1:1, 14, 18.
In the Symbol of the Christian faith, the 3rd article says: “who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, and became Man”. Lk 1:26-56. Therefore, the Virgin Mary is great theme for us the believers in Christ the Savior as Word of God eternal. The Virgin Mary is Theotokos, bearer of God the Word in the birth of Christ Jesus. Jn 1:1, 14, 18; 19:25-27.
One of the most interesting topics, in regard with the Virgin Mary (Theotokos), is her “falling asleep” Koimesis, the separation of her soul from the body. 15th August every year. In all the hymns of this feast, the emphasis is put on the after-death situation, not only of Christ the Word but also of His mother in body, (the Theotokos) in the substance, and of every believer. All the hymns are theological reflections!
“At the sovereign command of God, all the God-bearing apostles were caught up on high, in the clouds from every place. And when they were come to your all-holy and life originating body, they kissed the same with love. The heavenly powers most high also, when they were come with their Master, were seized with dread as they escorted the body all-pure and well-pleasing unto God, which had received God the Word; with stately mien also they went before, and invisibly cried aloud unto the powers most high: Lo, the Queen over all, and the maiden of God cometh …” (Glorification hymn in Vespers)
According to Apostle Paul, this activity of the Word of God from heaven, to become man in Christ by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, is action of humbleness! A self-emptying attitude, to liken men to God, by obedience and self-sacrifice for the Glory of God