Ephraim: Hymns on the Nativity
Nativity Hymn 6: Blessed Be the Messenger
Blessed be the Messenger who came laden: a great peace! The tender mercy of the Father brought him down to us. He did not bring up our debts to him, but made satisfaction to that Majesty with his own goods.
Praised be the Wise One, who reconciled and joined the divine nature with the human. One from above and one from below, he confined the natures as medicines; and being the Image of God, he became man.
That Jealous One, when he saw that Adam was dust and that the cursed serpent had devoured him, poured soundness into what was tasteless and made him like salt, with which the accursed serpent would be blinded.
Blessed be the Merciful One, who saw the weapon beside Paradise that closed the way to the tree of life, and came and took a body that could suffer, so that by the door that was in his side he might open the way into Paradise.
Blessed be that Merciful One, who did not lend himself to harshness, but conquered by wisdom without compulsion, so that he might give people an example: that they too, by virtue and wisdom, might conquer with discernment.
Blessed is your flock, since you are its gate and you are its staff. You are its Shepherd, you are its drink, you are its salt, yes, its Visitor. Hail to the only Son, who brought abundantly every kind of consolation!
The farmers came and bowed down before the Farmer of Life. They prophesied to him as they rejoiced, saying: “Blessed be the Farmer by whom the ground of the heart is tilled, who gathers his wheat into the barn of life.”
The farmers came and gave glory to the Vineyard that sprang from the root and stem of Jesse, the virgin Cluster of the glorious Vine: “May we be vessels for your new wine, which makes all things new.”
“In you may the vineyard of my Well-beloved, which yielded wild grapes, find peace! Graft its vines from your stock; let it be laden through and through from your blessings with a fruit that may reconcile the Lord of the vineyard, who threatens it.”
Because of Joseph, the craftsmen came to the son of Joseph, saying: “Blessed be your Nativity, O Chief of craftsmen! The ark bore its imprint, and after it was fashioned the tabernacle of meeting, which was only for a time!
“Our craft praises you, who are our glory. Make the yoke that is light, yes, easy, for those who bear it. Make the measure in which there can be no falseness, which is full of truth; yes, devise and make measures by righteousness, so that the worthless man may be accused by them, and the perfect man acquitted by them. Weigh both mercy and truth with them, O just One, as a judge.”
Bridegrooms rejoiced with their brides: “Blessed be the Babe, whose mother was the bride of the Holy One! Blessed the wedding feast at which you were present, at which, when the wine suddenly ran short, it abounded again in you!”
The children cried out: “Blessed is he who has become a brother to us and a companion in the middle of the streets. Blessed be the day that gives glory with the branches to the Tree of Life, which made his Majesty stoop down to our childhood!”
Women heard that a Virgin would conceive and give birth to a Son. Honorable women hoped that you would rise from them; yes, noble ladies hoped that you might spring up from them! Blessed be your Majesty, which humbled itself and rose from the poor!
And the young girls who carried him prophesied, saying: “Whether I am hated or fair, or of low estate, I am without spot for you. I have taken you in my charge for the bed of childbirth.”
Sarah had lulled Isaac, who as a slave carried on his shoulders the image of the King his Master, the sign of his cross; yes, on his hands were bindings and sufferings, a type of the nails.
Rachel cried to her husband and said, “Give me sons.” Blessed be Mary, in whose womb, though she did not ask, you dwelt in holiness, O Gift, who poured yourself out on those who received you.
Hannah asked for a child with bitter tears; Sarah and Rebekah with vows and words; Elizabeth too with her prayer; and after they had long been in distress, they so obtained comfort.
Blessed be Mary, who without vows and without prayer conceived in her virginity and gave birth to the Lord of all the sons of her companions, who have been or will be chaste and righteous, priests and kings.
Who else ever lulled a son in her bosom as Mary did? Who ever dared to call her son the Son of the Maker, the Son of the Creator, the Son of the Most High?
Who ever dared to speak to her son as in prayer? O Trust of your mother as God, her Beloved and her Son as man: it is right for your mother to stand before you in fear and love!