Shunoyo Lent Day 3

Θεοτοκος ἐν Λειτουργιᾳ

(Meditating Holy Theotokos through the Divine Liturgy)

 

Hymn 

Paarin maarge jeevan choriyum Shoshappaye

Prarthanaye nee Daiva samakshath-arpichalum

(Bovuso of Mar Jacob, Sheema Tuesday Ratri Namaskaram)  

English Translation 

May that veil, which shed life on the pathway of earth, intercede and offer prayers before God.

 

 

"Jeevan choriyum Shoshappaye!"

(The veil which shed life)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Syriac Liturgy, Mary is quite often metaphorized as veil, with different contexts. Here, Mar Jacob calls her the veil which shed life on the pathway of earth. We know, a veil is used to hide and/or reveal something. So what was hidden and revealed through Mary? The only begotten Son of God, the Logos about which the prophets spoke was hidden or was a transcending reality for the human creation. But the moment He took flesh from Mary he became a tangible, communicable Messiah of the entire human race. So, through Mary was revealed the Divine dispenser of 'life' or more precisely the 'eternal life' to the world. Every human born is a sojourner and this world is the pathway. Through our life on earth we are sojourning or setting a pilgrimage to the state transcending time and space. And to spiritually envisage this pilgrim, we are prototyped by God-incarnate, who led and laid his life for us. It is this 'Life' which Mary revealed to the world! So what's the message we shall assimilate from Mary the veil who revealed life on the pathway of earth? Every individual exhibits in some way what is intrinsic to his/her being. That is, we all have within us a core being, our hearts wherein all thoughts and emotions take birth. If only we are integrated with our mind, body and soul, we would be able to reveal or shed forth a spiritual life. So on this pilgrimage of life, what are we exhibiting or revealing through us? Is it a Gospel legacy, or a self-deceiving, disintegrated life? It is only when our core becomes a heaven, we could shed forth treasures envisaging 'Life', the Christ! "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt 6:21). St. Paul also reminds us, 

"And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us....We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body." (2 Cor 4:3-7,10,11)

As Mary created a heart of heaven and revealed the Treasury of Life to the world, let us seek her intercession that God may transform our hearts to unveil the treasures of eternal life to this world. May God bless us.

Prayers and Regards - Dn. Jipson Thomas