Almighty God, source of every blessing, your generous goodness comes to us anew every day. By the work of your Spirit lead us to acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Filled with the Holy Spirit, the blessed Theotokos acknowledged God's goodness when she sang "my soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my savior", she gave thanks when her song continued "God the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name"; and she offered herself in willing obedience when she said "be it done to me according to thy word".
The obedience of Joachim and Anna led to Mary's obedience, which led to the obedience of the Word made flesh, becoming obedient unto death, even death on a cross.
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Very good, Father. I look forward to the full version! :)
Last evening I was speaking with our priest who remarked on the astonishing Orthodoxy of so many Lutherans.