Message of Fr. Vazken Movsesian, parish priest of St. Andrew Armenian Church, Cupertino, from the Nakhagoch Newsletter. Electronic version archived on: SAIN-- St. Andrew Information Network -------------------------------------- c. 1986 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org -------------------------------------- August 1986 Pastor's Message Who's Calling? Young girl. Teenager. Pregnant. Unmarried. Even in today's "modern" society, with it's "liberal" rules these conditions continue raise the eyebrows of many. Think back some 20-30 years agoÉmaybe 40-50 years ago, when an unmarried, pregnant teenager would surely be isolatedÉwhen it was unheard ofÉwhen only "those types of girls" would be caught in such a situation. Now let's image what it was like, a couple of thousand years ago. A young girl. A teenager. Pregnant. Unmarried. What might her reaction have been? Alarm? Disbelief? Apprehension? Anxiety? Certainly fear! Given the chance to have changed things, she probably would have. Except, the girl in question did have a choice and opted for her special situation! The girl in question was a very special first-century figure. She happened to be bearing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and therefore she is known to the Armenian Church not only as St. Mary but as Asdvadzadzin (=the Mother-of-God). When the angel Gabriel gave St. Mary the news that she was to conceive a child, she replied, "Élet it be to me according to your word." She exercised her free will, the same free will all humans possess and submitted herself to God. St. Mary's life-style of willing obedience to God's plan for her is her hallmark. We too, are called by God. You may say, "When I hear the voice of an angel then I'll know I've been called." Or, "If I was asked to bear the Son of God, I would would not say 'No.'" Are you sure? The truth of the matter is that God has given us better than an angel to do the calling. He has given His Son. His Son has given us His Body--the Church, which does the calling, day and night. The Church asks of free spirited men and women to bear Jesus Christ. She asks us to be part of the Body of Christ. And how do we reply? ÉToo busy? When I get the time? I was born Armenian? I believe in my heart? I read the Bible? I belong to organizations that do good works? St. Mary could have come up with excuses. She could have asked to be impregnated at a later time. She could have said she believed in God but did not feel like being fanatical about it. She could have argued that she was a Jew and had no need for any special appointment from God. But she did not. "Let it be to me according to your word." Not later, but NOW! She did not idly stand by, but took an active role in the plan! On August 17, 1986 we will celebrate the feast of Assumption of the Holy Mother of God. It is a major feast of the Armenian Church. On this occasion we will also have the traditional blessing of the grapes service. This tradition comes to us from ancient times. Being an agrarian society, Armenians brought their first crop to the church for blessing. In our "silicon" society, I will ask that our parishioners bring whatever product they manufacture, from semi-conductors to lasers, to be blessed along with the grapes. On this occasion, may the Lord inspire us with the story of St. Mary, and move us to hear and act upon His calling. --Fr.Vazken -------------------------------------- c. 1993 Fr. Vazken Movsesian Address comments to: dervaz@sain.org --------------------------------------