“I am drowning, O Lady, under the tide of distress, and I am distraught by the blizzard of life's adversities. Come quickly, I entreat, and lend a hand of assistance. For you are my Patroness earnestly helping me.”  

- Great Paraklesis Ode 3

Reflection: 

The prayers of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary have the boldness of a mother(1), and the strength of hope in the resurrection.(2) 

Often when we feel overwhelmed by the many stresses that our life has, we try to address the situations by ourselves and forget to turn to God. 

Let us remember that when we are overwhelmed we turn to God, and when we wish to do even more, we can cry out to our mother, the Panagia, the Virgin Mary, to pray for us. 

Resources:

1) The Wedding at Cana (Virgin Mary's first intercessory boldness) John 2:1-12

2) Mary at the Cross John 19:25-27 (Her silent strength and hope in the Resurrection in the sight of the most difficult thing, a mother witnessing her son dying on the Cross)

“Refute those who dispute with you by the strength of your virtues and not by the persuasiveness of your words, but by the meekness and quietness of your lips.” 

- St Isaac the Syrian, The Ascetical Homilies, Homily 4, pg 32-33.

Reflection: 

May we always work on ourselves to love Christ and our neighbor even better than the previous day, so that our virtues will shine. 

This way we will follow the advice of St Isaac and truly give the love and meekness of Christ(1) in response to any given situation. 

Resources:

1) John 18:28 (Jesus before Pilot)