Saint Mary of Egypt - The Fifth Sunday of Great Lent

Today is the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent 
On the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate St. Mary of Egypt. Her story is illustrates God's capacity to heal and help us transform regardless of the bad choices  we have made or if we have lived a life of sin.  Each one of us has it in us to turn our lives around. Personally, I have always thought it was interesting that we commemorated her on  the 5th Sunday. This is the final Sunday before we get to the home stretch of the lenten season which is marked Lazarus Saturday and Palm Sunday. After Palm Sunday, we begin  Holy Week.   

St. Zosimas and St. Mary of Egypt 

Who Was Saint Mary of Egypt? 



Saint Mary of Egypt left  her home and family at around age of 12 to live a life of personal pleasure and sin. When she lived this life it would not bring her happiness, but emptiness and distance from God. One day she found herself at the entrance of the church in Jerusalem to  venerate the Cross of Christ, when she tried to enter the church she was locked out!  This was her wake up call to stop and look at herself as unworthy, and in need of healing. She fled for the desert without much, but had one important thing: faith in God that He would provide for her daily food and shelter for 47 years.


It is important to know that she didn't go to the desert to punish herself, but find herself that is, the true self that God created her to be, beautiful and worthy in His eyes.


Who Was Saint Zosimas? 

Saint Zosimas  was a monk from Palestine who lived at a monastery on the outskirts of Caesarea. 

Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, “Zosimas, you have struggled valiantly, as far as this is in the power of man. However, there is no one who is righteous (Rom 3:10). So that you may know how many other ways lead to salvation, leave your native land, like Abraham from the house of his father (Gen 12:1), and go to the monastery by the Jordan.” 

Abba Zosimas immediately left the monastery, and following the angel, he went to the Jordan monastery and settled in it.  Abba Zosimas, according to the custom of the monastery, went deep into the desert hoping to find someone living there who could benefit him. The desert-dweller saw Zosimas approaching, and attempted to flee from him. Abba Zosimas, despite being elderly and very tired, quickened his pace. When he was close enough to be heard, he called out, “Why do you flee from me, a sinful old man? Wait for me, for the love of God.” 

The stranger said to him, “Forgive me, Abba Zosimas, but I cannot turn and show my face to you. I am a woman, and as you see, I am naked. If you would grant the request of a sinful woman, throw me your cloak so I might cover my body, and then I can ask for your blessing.” 

Then Abba Zosimas was very scared, realizing that she could not have called him by name unless she possessed clairvoyance, which is the ability to see into the future. He threw her his cloak. 

Covered by the cloak, Saint Mary turned to Zosimas: “Why do you want to speak with me, a sinful woman? What did you wish to learn from me, you who have not shrunk from such great labors?” 

Abba Zosimas fell to the ground and asked for her blessing. She also bowed down before him, and for a long time they remained on the ground each asking the other to bless. Finally, the woman ascetic said: “Abba Zosimas, you must bless and pray, since you are honored with the grace of the priesthood. For many years you have stood before the holy altar, offering the Holy Gifts to the Lord.” 

These words frightened Saint Zosimas even more. With tears he said to her, “O Mother! It is clear that you live with God and are dead to this world. You have called me by name and recognized me as a priest, though you have never seen me before. The grace granted you is apparent, therefore bless me, for the Lord’s sake.” 

Mary eventually became transformed and pleasing to God she was seen elevated off the ground in prayer, she walked on water to cross the river to receive the Holy Eucharist. When she passed, Saint Zosimas found her in the desert, weeping bitterly a lion  was sent by God to help bury her.

Sources 

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/04/01/100963-venerable-mary-of-egypt

A Child's Paradise of Saints - Nun Nekataria Mcclees 

http://orthodoxeducation.blogspot.com/2014/04/st-mary-egypt-turn-life-around.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MC3tEQlqdGY&feature=youtu.be