Day 11

The next Feast Day we encounter in our journey through the Advent Fast is St. Anna's Conception of the Mother of God. The story of the conception of the Mother of is another that is not recorded in the Bible, but was known in the early Church and handed down through oral tradition.

 

The Feast tells us that Joachim and Anna were childless for 50 years. They lived at Nazareth in Galilee. They lived with constant scorn and derision since at that time, childlessness was considered a disgrace. But the two never complained, but simply lived in the fear of God with humility.

 

Tradition goes on to tell us that Joachim went to the Temple for a High Feast. As he came to make his offering, the High Priest rebuked him, telling him that in childlessness, his gifts were not worthy. Saddened, Joachim considered himself the most sinful of all people and refused to return home. Instead, He went to live in solitude.

 

When Anna heard what had taken place, she was saddened and began to pray to God to grant them a child and remove this stigma. Joachim, in his desolation, prayed the same thing. God heard their prayers and sent an angel to tell them that they would have a daughter that would be blessed above all other women. This, of course, was the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.

 

Scripture tells us of a number of barren births that produced children that were significant in the history of God and His work with His people. The next most notable would be St. John the Baptist, the Forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

As  Archimandrite Vassilios tells us, this points out that, with God's help, miraculous things come out of barrenness. This holds true for our own relationship with God. Certainly there are times that our personal relationship with God is somewhat barren. But out of that barrenness can come the fruits of repentance, humility and love. We only have to turn ourselves over to God as Joachim and Anna did.

 

Let the journey of this Nativity Fast help make our relationship with God fertile, bringing forth fruit worthy of God.