In birth, you preserved your virginity; in death, you did not abandon the world, O Theotokos. As mother of life, you departed to the source of life, delivering our souls from death by your intercessions.

Shudder, O ye heavens! and, O earth, give ear unto these words:
God descended once before for our sake; He descends again today for His Mother.

The feast isn't until Saturday. However, the Dormition (or Assumption, in the West - this is the same feast, but the title emphasizes a different aspect) is the fourth highest feast in the Church year, following the Paschal feast, Pentecost, and the feast of the Nativity. Church teaching is that all the apostles but Thomas were gathered mystically around the Blessed Mother as she died, and were there for her burial. Thomas, arriving three days later, was taken to her tomb, only to find that it was empty. This Church teaching of the assumption of her body into heaven is not just a pious tradition, but holds some deep spiritual and physical truths for us. It is a sign and reminder to us that not only Christ resurrected bodily, but that we all will rise. Also, we know now, as they didn't then, that all women bear the DNA of each and every child borne to them in their bodies forever. So, by raising His mother, our Lord made sure that His resurrection was complete on this earth. If this had not happened, then He would not be completely risen. What a wonder and miracle! Science, archaelogy, history, always vindicate the Church and her teachings.

Inevitably, when people deny honor to the Theotokos, it is really a dishonor to the Lord. Even denying her the title Theotokos ends up declaring that Christ was either not God in her womb, or that He is not God incarnate. It is often not intentional, but I think a good question to ask oneself when putting her "in her place" is what does this mean about Christ and His divinity? If it ends up dishonoring Him, calling His divinity into question, or lessening Him, it isn't a good thing. Likewise, so many people say that there is too much honor given her, without actually considering whether or not they honor her enough or even at all. What is just the right amount of honor? Surely it isn't debasing the woman who bore and raised our Lord? Jesus was born a Jew and fulfilled the law. He loved and honored His mother, and as we could not have had Him without her, why would we want that, instead of following His example?

The Archangel Gabriel in the Gospel of Luke hails her and says that God calls her blessed. Her cousin Elizabeth's unborn son, Saint John the Forerunner, leaps at the sound of Mary's voice, and by this does Elizabeth know and proclaim that Mary is the Mother of her Lord. Mary replies by saying that ALL generations will call her blessed. It is in the Scriptures that we are to bless her, that God Himself magnifies her, so why should we not do the same? How can we do less?

Last week, Rich and I were able to go to East Wenatchee's Havana Nights for dancing. The smoke had cleared enough that it was safe to be outdoors. We had been in Wenatchee earlier in the week when you couldn't even see the hills across the river, or the river itself. This week holds a wonderful day for us, as well, with Winnie's birthday. We are so excited for her first birthday! We also have an opportunity to have a visit with some of our kids' godparents, and are looking forward to that, as well. As next week is going to be a busy week with fair, I am really hoping we get a chance to rest up in preparation for it this week.

Speaking of needing rest, please continue to pray for our family. Our life is really catching up with us, and we are just bone weary, exhausted all the time. We are forgetting important things and missing things that need to be done. It's wearing on us more and more. Please pray for our whole area. There are at least 40 fires burning all around us. The smoke is pretty bad, though not the worst we've ever seen here. Pray for the families and business who have been displaced, and for the firefighters.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Leftovers, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Arabic Style Braised Beef*, Salad, Sourdough Bread, Cheese Potica, Watermelon and Blackberries
• Monday - Feast of Saint Laurence
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Homemade Cottage Cheese, Toast, Plums, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: Biftek ou Battatas, Beet Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette and Ricotta and Toasted Pistachios, Chocolate Marshmallow Cookies
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Creamed Eggs, Toast Fingers, Sliced Cantaloupe, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Jeddo’s Tuna Sandwiches*, Pickles, Chips, Sliced Watermelon
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Apple Muse, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Black Bean, Tomato and Corn Salad with Corn Chips, Sliced Apples
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Cornish Splits with Qishta and Blackberry Jam, Bacon, Tea and Coffee
  Dinner: American Beef and Cheese Enchiladas, Rice, Cake
• Friday
  Breakfast: Potato and Vegetable Hash with Salsa, Toast, Sliced Apples, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Fish and Chips with Friends
• Saturday - Feast of the Dormition of the Blessed Theotokos
  Breakfast: Throw Together Brunch with Friends
  Dinner: Hot Dogs, Fried Potatoes, Peppers and Onions, Fruit Plate

What is on your menu this week? If you want a recipe, ask and I will provide it as soon as I can. If there are any starred recipes, I will follow up separately with a weekly recipe round up on Saturday.

Labels: Blessed Virgin, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Homemaking, Menu Plans, Prayer Requests, Tales from the Kitchen, Theotokos