On November 21 in the Holy Orthodox Church the feast day of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the Temple is celebrated. The epistle reading assigned for this feast is Hebrews 9:1-7, which speaks of the regulations for worship under the first covenant and describes the two parts of the tabernacle, called the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. In that text, the author of Hebrews emphasizes that the tabernacle had to be prepared before sacrifices could be offered. On this feast day, that preparation is applied to Mary, the Theotokos. When we speak of her being prepared, we don’t want to understand that this somehow qualified her to be the mother of Jesus. Mary is depicted in the Gospels as highly favored and full of grace. If her preparation somehow makes her worthy, that diminishes the grace and her election becomes a reward, something owed to her. The preparation is for Mary’s benefit, not God’s.

Notes:
Hebrews 9:1-7
Luke 10:38-42; 11:27-28
κατασκευάζω (kataskeuazó) - to prepare thoroughly
πρόθεσις (prosthesis) - presence, presentation

“Fortune Presents Gifts Not According to the Book” performed by Dead Can Dance.

This episode looks at the remembrance in the Orthodox Church of Archangel Michael, the Chief Commander of the Bodiless Powers, in light of the reading at Vespers from Joshua Chapter 5. The victory granted to Joshua and the children of Israel is based on their adherence to the commandments of the Lord. The sword drawn in the hand of the supreme commander of the army of the Lord is not merely an instrument of war, but something more dreadful. Scripturally speaking, it is the Lord’s judgment.

Notes:
Joshua 5:13-15
Exodus 3:1-5
Genesis 3:24
Ephesians 6:11-17

“Fortune Presents Gifts Not According To The Book” performed by Dead Can Dance.
“Koran” performed by Delirium.

In the previous passage, verses 21-28, the direction of movement was out. Here, it is in - from the synagogue (representing Judaism of the diaspora) to the “house” of Simon (representing the temple, thus the Judaism of Jerusalem). And in that house, Jesus does exactly what he had done to the demon-possessed man - he brings healing through the gospel. This parallel is meant to show that the Jews in Jerusalem are in no different a position than those in diaspora: both need the gospel.

Join me in a discussion of Mark 1:28-34.

Notes:
1 Samuel 7:5-7
Galatians 1:1, 15-16; 2:9
εὐθὺς (evthys) - immediately
οἶκος (oikos) - house
στῦλοι (styli) - pillars
δοκέo (dokeio) - to seem, to appear so
πενθερὰ (penthera) - mother-in-law

https://www.ocabspress.org/new-testament-products/vol-41-mark-part-1
“Rumeta” performed by 3rd Eye Girl.
Photo by Tim Mossholder: https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-and-white-concrete-building-3690734/