Journey Back to Eden.pdf - St Mark Coptic Orthodox Church Chicago

A TIME TO VISIT ABRAHAM 57laity who are poor villagers, who wear mere rags, these meditationson Mary are living truths. She is their Mother, their Mother infaith and in hope. She is the one who receives Christ and makeshim available to them. In these truths they place great store andfind great consolation.As the night progresses, I see the large families of the poor whogather in the monastery church. They huddle together on their pillowsright on the floor, little clusters of them, one lying against theother, warming one another, praying and sleeping. All these thingsare conjoined together in acts of creaturely piety, so sincere, sobasic, so simple. I can almost imagine, for the first time, what thespirituality of the ancient world might have been like in old Bethlehemor in the hill country of Judea, as the people there longed forthe salvation of God, for the revelation of the Good News. TheseCopts must share with all poor people of all ages a certain simplicitywhich Christ Jesus must regard as blessed: a quality which predisposesthem to be totally receptive to his love and his grace.