Protection of the Theotokos 2020 - Abp. Benjamin

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and

of the Holy Spirit. It seems apocalyptic almost

for us in California these days. In the book

of Revelation, the angels pour out bowls of God's

wrath upon the earth. Plague, fire, flood, and

it all seems to be happening to us in California.

But it's not the end of the world, I assure you.

But I think... It is at these times that we are

reminded by these events that we're not in charge,

that God is in charge, and that we need him.

You know, I don't know if you've ever been in

the house of someone who has cats, and they don't

really keep the house clean, you know, the litter

box clean, and you get in the house and it's

like the smell is overwhelming, but they don't

notice it at all. They're kind of nose blind.

I think we become kind of nose blind to the fact

that we're not in charge. We go about our lives

as though, you know, we can go to the bank, we

can get money. We go to the store, we can get

food. We do all these things. We have the illusion

that everything's in our control. And it takes

a disaster like this to remind us that we're

not in control. We celebrate today another disaster

that befell the great city of Constantinople,

the imperial city. It's very strange, this feast

of the deliverance of the city of Constantinople

from barbarians is really not very well... among

the Greeks, but amongst Russians, it's a big

deal. It's almost a major feast. But in fact,

it was Russians who were attacking the city of

Constantinople before they were Christians. They

were the ones who were delivered, who the Theotokos

appeared over the city in the sign of deliverance.

They were the ones who were defeated. And I think

as we go through these weeks before the rains

come and fires stop and... As we endure this

virus, we need to ask the Mother of God very

fervently for her to extend her protecting veil

over us, our city, and our state. And as a reminder

to us that we're not in control. We need her.

We need God to deliver us, even now. Even now.

God bless you all.