Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple!

 Orthodoxy is often both/and instead of either/or.

Today is a feast of Mary in the Orthodox Church; some might be surprised that we read one of the most commonly misunderstood passages about her in the liturgies of her feasts:

“While he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out and said to him 'Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed!' He replied, 'RATHER, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.'” [Lk. 11:28, emph. mine]

The point for us being this: no one has heard the word of God and kept it better than she has. But the English translation should be much better here, because the word μενοῦνγε (meh-NOON-geh), often translated as “No, but rather” — in other words, as a denial followed by a contrast — can mean “Yes, and moreover...!” — in other words, as an affirmation followed by an addition!

The word does *exactly* this in Phil. 3:7-8:

“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. MORE THAN THAT (μενοῦνγε), I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” [New American Standard Bible, emph. mine].

So yes, she *is* blessed among women for being the earthly mother of our Lord.

We *are all* blessed for hearing the word of God and keeping it.

But *only she* is doubly blessed and highly favored for having done *both*; far from being “downgraded” to second class by an either/or statement from her Son, she is elevated through the both/and.

And we are invited to come along.

Blessed Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple!