THE PRE-ETERNAL GOD -- A LITTLE BABE...






Christ is Born, Glorify ye Him!  Glory to Thee, O Lord!  Glory to Thee!

Make ready, O Bethlehem. * Open wide to all, O Eden. * Prepare thineself, O Ephratha. * In a cave, a Virgin's womb shall soon bring forth the Tree of Life, * and, like paradise itself, * She will bear the Divine Fruit. * Wherewith,  if we eat of it, we shall never die like Adam -- * for, by His birth, Christ will raise the image that fell so long ago. Though He holds the universe in the palm of His hand, * we shall soon see Him in Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes. * Let us prepare for this feast by singing to that Maiden Who will bring Him into this world, * for, like every mother, She is filled with joy over the Son She carrieth in her womb. By summoning the wise men with a star, * the heavens lead the first among the Gentiles to worship Thee. * When they find Thee, it is neither throne nor sceptre that amazeth them, * but the utter poverty of that awesome birth. * And indeed, what could be more lowly than a cave, * more humble than swaddling clothes? * Yet, for all that poverty, the riches of Thy divinity shine forth resplendently. * O,  Infant Lord and Saviour, glory to Thee! When Mariamne and Joseph went to register at Bethlehem as members of David's house, * She was carrying the Child of virginity in Her womb. * As the time for Her delivery drew near, * there was no room for them at the inn. * And when a cave was shown to them, * it seemed like a palace to that royal Mother. * So it was that Christ was born, * to raise the image that had fallen so long ago. Today, the virgin maketh Her way to a cave, * and there She will bear the eternal Word in a way beyond our understanding. * Let all creation rejoice in this news; * with the shepherds and the angels, * let us give glory to the eternal God, * Who cometh to all humankind as a newborn Child! *

(From the prefestal hymns of Christmas...)

May all the best of every good thing that heaven and earth have to offer come the way of everyone who reads this during this bright and beautiful sacred feast of the God-Man's birth into the human race, and throughout the new year as well --



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