The Conception of the Theotokos and Freedom in Christ

Every year on December 9 the Orthodox Church commemorates the conception by St Anna of the Theotokos (Mother of God), that is Mary.  The Gospel reading’s concluding verse for this commemoration is found in St Luke 8:21:  “…these are my mother and my brothers:  those who hear the word of God are are doing it.”  Concerning this day, and pointing to the Incarnation of God the Son in human flesh, St Paul writes these words:  “When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman born under the Law in order that those under the Law might be set free” (Gal 4: 4 – 5).

We have this brief history regarding St Anna:

St Anna holding Mary

Saint Anna, the mother of the Virgin Mary, was the youngest daughter of the priest Nathan from Bethlehem, descended from the tribe of Levi. She married Saint Joachim, who was a native of Galilee.  For a long time Saint Anna was childless, but after twenty years, through the fervent prayer of both spouses, an angel of the Lord announced to them that they would be the parents of a daughter, Who would bring blessings to the whole human race.The Conception of the Virgin Mary by Saint Anna took place at Jerusalem. The many icons depicting the Conception by Saint Anna show the Most Holy Theotokos trampling the serpent underfoot.

And we have this from the day’s troparion: 

Today the bonds of barrenness are broken:  God has heard the prayers of Joachim and Anna.  He has promised them beyond all their hopes to bear the Maiden of God, by whom the Uncircumscribed One was born as a mortal Man; He commanded an angel to cry to her [Mary]:  “Rejoice, you who are full of grace, the Lord is with you.”

Again we read from Gal 4: 4 – 5: 

When the fullness of time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman born under the Law [of Moses] in order that those under the Law might be set free.

This epistle reading for the day’s commemoration comes from St Paul:

For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and one by a free woman.  But the son of the slave was born according to the flesh, the son of the free woman through promise…So, brethren, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman (Gal 4: 22 -23, 31).

The descendants of Abraham were born of the free woman — Sarah.  Christians are the spiritual, faith descendants of Abraham, and so, are also born of the free woman.  We are also spiritually born of God (see St John 1: 12 – 13).  Being so born, we are now in Christ to be free and no longer bound to sin!  In Christ we are freed from sin, not just the penalty of sin!

Icon of the Annunciation

We note this holy day for a specific reason:  We will come to the Feast of the Annunciation when the Archangel Gabriel comes to Mary and declares to her God’s salvific purpose for her.  In responding to the Archangel’s words she replies, “May it be done unto me according to your word.”  From Mary’s words come the Incarnation of God the Son in human flesh:  “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (St John 1: 29).  He sets us free from the death of sin.  He destroys death by death.  He gives to us his Light and Life of his Resurrection.  From Mary’s words will also bring he coming of the sanctifying Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost who, by baptism, joins us to Christ.  Thus, we share in Christ’s life, and the life of God in the Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Orthodox Church.

WE ARE FREE IN CHRIST.  “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal 5: 1)

We are additionally free to bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5: 22 – 23).  This fruit is the polar opposite to what we were once held in bondage, that is,  the fruit of the flesh: immorality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like (Gal 5: 19 – 21).  Of this foul, poisonous fruit St Paul warns us:  “…as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God” (Gal 5: 19 – 21).  St Paul then instructs us, “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal 5: 24).

I return to our Lord’s words, ““…these are my mother and my brothers:  those who hear the word of God are are doing it.”  There was another Gospel reading for December 9.   We also read from St Luke:  

Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many I tell you, you will seek to enter and will not be able.  When once the householder has risen up and shut the door, you will begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord open to us.’  He will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’  Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’  But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity! (St Luke 13: 24 – 27).

What about those who were locked out.  It all seems a bit unfair at first glance.    Consider this — They ate and drank, listened to him, but did not do what they heard from Christ.We must determine what we will do and not do that we might walk on the narrow path and enter through the narrow door.  I quote from a portion of the Prayer of the hours: “…Sanctify our souls, purify our bodies, set aright our minds, cleanse our thoughts…”

The battle is in the mind.  We have the Holy Spirit; Christ is in us; we have the Father.  We are thus empowered — we lack nothing.  We have the Eucharist to solidify our union in Christ, and to cleanse us of our sins, and to receive his victory over sin, darkness, alienation from God and all of creation.  We have the sacrament of Confession additionally for the forgiveness of sins, and to put us back on the narrow path when we lose our way.

We have all we need “to hear the word of God AND DO IT!

In Christ who frees us,

Fr Irenaeus