“Today, the most pure temple of the Savior, the precious bridal chamber and Virgin, the sacred treasure of God, enters the house of the Lord, bringing the grace of the Divine Spirit. The Angels of God praise her. She is the heavenly tabernacle.”
– Kontakion Hymn for the Entrance of the Theotokos (Into the Temple)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
A week from today, we as a Nation, and throughout individual households, will sit down, together with family, friends and loved ones to share a meal together. Though this happens every day and with little notice or attention, next Thursday’s dinner is not about the meal itself, or even the people, themselves, gathered around the table.
It won’t be an anniversary or a birthday that will bind the people through tradition. It’s not a feast day of the church or a religious holiday. Thanksgiving Day is grounded in the gratitude of the people for the foundation and preservation of our fine country. It’s a National Holiday; secular in design, though spiritual in foundation.
But early next week, while your neighbors are jotting down lists, exchanging recipes and borrowing extra folding chairs, we as Orthodox Christians have another commemoration of thanksgiving that will be celebrated. Children won’t act out this expression of thanksgiving in school plays, and there are no decorations to be found in stores which reflect this historical event.
Monday, November 21st, we celebrate the Feast of the Theotokos’ Entrance into the Temple. Through the Gospel (Protoevangelium) of St. James, authored by the brother of Jesus Christ, we are blessed with the details of the Theotokos’ birth and early life.
On this day, the Theotokos was brought to the Temple at three years of age, where she was consecrated to God and spent her days there until she was fourteen or fifteen years old.
When the Panaghia turned two years old, St. Ioakim, the father of the Theotokos, told St. Anna, “Let us take her up to the Temple of the Lord, so that we may pay the vow which we have vowed.” (Prot. James 7:2). In other words, “Since we are so thankful to God for giving us a child, we will dedicate her wholly and completely to His service.”
By Ss. Ioakim and Anna’s sincere gratitude towards God, the Theotokos lived an undistracted life of virtue, chastity, prayer and righteousness. She dwelt in His holy dwelling place until she was of age to be betrothed to the noble Joseph. Ultimately petitioned by God to bear His Son, she brought to fruition, His plan of salvation for the entire human race.
It all began with thanksgiving.
The turn of events in our fallen world began with gratitude.
The scales of divine justice were tipped in our favor through appreciation.
God reintroduced goodness into the world, and we were thankful.
It is my fervent prayer that before we consider the historical events of Thanksgiving Day, and our contemporary traditions which orbit around it, we take the time to meditate upon the gratitude of Ss. Ioakim and Anna. They made a promise to God out of their appreciation of what He did for them.
And what He did for them, was a gift to us all – eternal life.
Be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving!
With Love in XC,
Fr. Anthony