THE LIFE AND STRUGGLES OF OUR HOLY MOTHER THE SAINTS MARY OF EGYPT COMMEMORATED ON THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF GREAT AND HOLY LENT

Saint Mary reveals her life to Abba (Father) Zosimas. "My native land, holy father, was Egypt. Already during the lifetime of my parents, when I was twelve (12) years old, I renounced their love and went to Alexandria. I am ashamed to recall how there I at first ruined my maidenhood and then unrestrainedly and insatiably gave myself up to sensuality...Four about seventeen (17) years, forgive me, I lived like that. I was like a fire of public debauch. And it was not for the sake of gain--here I speak the pure truth. Often when they wished to pay me, I refused the money. I acted in this way so as to make as many men as possible try to obtain me, doing free of charge what gave me pleasure. Do not think that I was rich and that was the reason why I did not take money. I lived by begging, often by spinning flax, but I had an insatiable desire and an irrepressible passion for lying in filth. This was life to me. Every kind of abuse of nature I regarded as life.

ENCOURAGED THROUGH THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

Psalm 119:173-176

Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O LORD, And Your Law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.

(The service of the Akathist is available at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnTmqYKNtyIYOH7vU8dW2QQ)

Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Priest: Glory To You, our God, Glory to You. Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, present in all places and filling all things, treasury of good things and giver of life: Come, take Your abode in us; cleanses us of every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.

The wisest and most rational decision that one can make is to always be ready and to be on the alert. None of us can predict the future and what the future has in store for us. It is, therefore, incumbent on us to be on the ready. Saint Paul the Holy Apostle advises of that when he says, "...put on the whole armor of God...stand your ground!” and "stand FIRM, having the belt of truth around your waist, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, having fitted shoes on your feet so as to be ready in the gospel of peace. Above all, take up the shield of faith which will enable you to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one. Take also the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word (spoken) by God. Pray at all times in (the) spirit of intercessions and requests: never get tired of this and persevere in your requests…” (Ephesians 6:14-18).

O Lord and Master of my life, do not permit the spirit of laziness and meddling, the lust for power and idle talk to come into me. (Prostration)

There is a saying that we do not know what we have until we lose it. Thanks to the coronavirus crisis and experience. We all view life and life's priorities very differently. It is almost common among people to want to take everything for granted. Things such as life, husband, wife, children, relatives, friends, co-workers, health, church, sacraments, opportunities, jobs, country, home, and even the many blessings bestowed by God. Unfortunately, it takes a horrific virus such as this to come to our senses and to the realization of who we are, how long we are to live on earth and to finally appreciate what we have been given by God.