Dormition of the Theotokos

In this story, Jesus visits the home of two of his closest friends, Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus. While Martha is busy preparing food and drink for their guest, Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and listens to the Lord's teachings. A resentful Martha watches her sister sit while she does all the work in providing hospitality. Finally, Martha speaks out and asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus' reply, "Martha, Martha..." is often quoted by Christians as a reminder that what most important in life is to listen to God's teachings. The work and toil of our every day lives will always be there, but the opportunity to listen and learn God's eternal truth visas readily present. Jesus does not deny the value of Martha's work as she prepares for guest, but Jesus has come to visit Martha and Mary not to be served as a guest but to serve his hosts as a giver and teacher of the Good News ("the Son of Man did not comet be served, but to serve" Matt. 20:28). The end of the Gospel reading for the Feast of the Dormition states this in even stronger terms: "As he said this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, 'Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that you sucked!' But he said, 'Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it'" (Luke 11:27-28). Certainly the Virgin Mary is worthy of praise and honor. Yet, with these words, Jesus reminds us that even though his own mother is blessed, those who hear and keep (do!) the word of God are even more blessed. Think of times in your own life when you have chosen to busy yourself with things of "this world" instead of listening, keeping, and doing the word of God.

The Dormition of the Theotokos is the Eastern Orthodox commemoration of the "falling asleep" or death of Mary, the mother of Jesus. The title and the idea of "the sleep of Mary" is more formally known as "the Dormition of Mary." The word dormition comes from the Latin word dormio, meaning "I sleep." The title "Dormition" can be misleading because it seems to focus more on the death and burial of Mary. It is celebrated on August 15 as the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God. It is preceded by a two-week fast from meat, dairy and oil. In Orthodoxy, death is often called one's "falling asleep". The Orthodox believe that Mary