In the Eastern Christian tradition, Mary's Assumption is pictured as Jesus bringing the infant Mary, wrapped in swaddling clothes, into Heaven to live with Him. I found this image very powerful, not only because Jesus cares for each of us in the same way, but because the image made me think of the changing roles that many of us go through as our parents and other family members age. The roles are reversed, and we must be the conduit through which Christ acts to care for our aging family.
Of course, as we "work out our salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12) we can hope that Our Lord will, similarly, wrap us in His arms and bring us to Heaven one day.
I love the imagery of the Dormition as well. Some of my closest friends from childhood are Greek Orthodox and they keep a strict fast for two weeks prior.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you - it's beautiful and comforting.
It is comforting. I just learned about the fast that is kept last night when I researched it.
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