by Prince Mathew
Preface for Meditation:
The third call which we will explore today is indeed the calling of all callings.
There is no other call in the entire history of the human race as great as this
call, and there is no response which impacted the fate of the human race as much
as this response. This call is the Annunciation, - the call of the Virgin Mary.
Recorded in the Gospel of St. Luke, the story of the Annunciation tells us how
the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. There,
the angel Gabriel was sent to a young girl who was probably in her early
teens - to a young virgin whose name was Mary. When the angel appeared to Mary, he
said to her "Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you...Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and
bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and called the Son of
the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor
David."
Yet, unlike Moses, Mary did not try to evade God's call. Unlike Moses,
she did not ask the Lord to choose another. Unlike Samuel, she was not confused
as to who was calling her. No, on the contrary, Mary responded with the greatest
response ever uttered. That response was simply, "Here am I, the servant of the
Lord; let it be with me according to your word."
Today, we celebrate this day of days, this feast of feasts. For through the call
and response of one girl all humanity has the opportunity for salvation. Today,
the church commemorates this day to remind us that God has called us as well.
These three stories prove God has called you. Make no mistake. God does not care
about your age. Are you as old as Moses or as young as Samuel? God has called
you. God has called you as he called Moses and Mary. God calls you regardless of
your race, regardless of your talents, regardless of your poverty, regardless of
your wealth. God calls you regardless of your strengths, regardless of your
weaknesses. God has called you because you are His sons and His daughters.
As we saw, the way God calls individuals is varied, yet the call is always
personal and the end is the always the same. In very rare occasions, this is
done in a dramatic way as it was to Moses. More often than naught, however, God
comes as he did to Samuel. Most often, God comes to us in a quiet whisper, for
as God Himself said, "be still and know that I am God." Remember, no matter how
God reveals himself, the calling is one and the same. God has called you to
serve him. God has called you to be a Christian. This calling - to be a
Christian - is as great as the call of Moses and as profound as that of Mary's.
Therefore, go and respond to God's call. Open up your hearts and allow God to
enter and as you leave here today. And every day, remember to pray, "Speak,
Lord, for your servant is listening."
This The Holy Lent is a time for us to listen to our call and to respond to His
call like Moses, Samuel and Mother Mary.
Bible Reading Passages:
Evening
Morning
Bible Verse of the Day:
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,
who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward
you. St. Matthew 6:6
Evening
Morning
Before Holy Qurbana
Holy Qurbana
Third Friday of The Holy Lent
* St. Matthew 6: 5-15
* Deuteronomy 8: 1-20
* Isaiah 1:10-20
* 1 Peter 3: 7- 15
* Romans 2: 2- 13
* St. Luke 18 : 9 -17
March - 25: Annunciation to St. Mary
St. Luke 8:16-21
St. Mark 3:31-35
Deuteronomy 26:16-27:10
Judges 13:2-14
Zechariah 2:10-13, 4:1-7,8:3
Isaiah 63:15-64:5
1 John 3:2-17
Hebrews 6:13-7:10
St. Luke 1:26-38
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