A homily for the Entry of the Most-Holy Theotokos into the Temple
Bishop Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky)
The great day that we now celebrate--the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Virgin Mary--always marked during the late fall or early winter, when the sun rises lazily, when the long night gives way to the short day and nature is filled with gray tones, the heart of the Christian is neither gloomy nor cold. His heart is warmed by the joy of the Feast of the Young Maiden-Virgin-Life: that life to which man was called from the beginning. She has touched and warmed our hearts.
The Young Girl of three years is led into the Holy of Holies of the Temple of Jerusalem to be raised in the Lord, proclaiming the coming Savior of the world.
We already hear the hymns about Jesus Christ, Who was born in Bethlehem, about the Love of God descending to man from heavenly heights--that Love, which returns man to the path of Light and Peace, the path lost by mankind's preoccupation with earthly cares, and heals us from inner darkness, from infirmities of the heart and the will.
"Christ is born--Glorify Him! Christ from heaven--Meet him!" Thus exclaims the Church from the day of the Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Virgin. And do we not grow in spirit as we hear these wondrous words of the church hymn? When our thoughts and hearts are lifted toward the Son of God coming down to us, does not all the darkness of doubt and confusion disappear in us?
As we rejoice, each must ask himself: What does the Young Maiden who now enters the temple say to us? And how will we meet Christ as He comes down to us from heaven?
We ask this question, and we receive the answer from the Young Maiden: "First of all--you must love the temple. For the saints, whose names are given to us in Holy Baptism, loved the temple and the word of God from an early age. He who does not like to attend church and avoids prayer in the temple robs himself spiritually and harms himself. Such a young man and such a young woman grow up spiritually poor and unattractive both in character and habits. It is painful and sorry to look at such thoughtless adults and young people."
O Most Pure Mother-Virgin! You give us the example of childhood purity and love to the temple of God, to prayer and hard work! Help us, our children and grandchildren, to warm our hearts with love for work accompanied by prayer and to achieve the purity of heart and mind for the worthy glorification of the Love of God which has embraced all of us and coming down to us from heaven.
Amen.