During Divine Liturgy on the feast of the Nativity (birth) of the Theotokos, Fr. Matthew Howell explains how St. Kassiani (commemorated September 7) refuted Theophilus the Iconoclast by pointing out how Virgin Mary brought forth the "better things", that is the Incarnation of God the Word. Along the way, he also quotes St. Gregory Palamas in asking "What shall we offer God's mother as a birthday present?" The answer is "exercise of the virtues" and repentance, and Fr. Matthew explains how offering those "birthday gifts" will build the grace of God within us.
