Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Whom have we

The Nativity, by Gerard van Honthorst (1590-1656).

Whom have we, Lord, like you?
The Great One who became small, the Wakeful who slept,
The Pure One who was baptized, the Living One who died,
The King who abased himself to ensure honor for all.
Blessed is your honor!

It is right that man should acknowledge your divinity,
It is right for heavenly beings to worship your humanity.
The heavenly beings were amazed to see how small you became,
And earthly ones to see how exalted.

-- Excerpt from a Nativity Hymn of Ephrem the Syrian (4th-century AD)

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! – Philippians 2:5-8

Merry Christmas!

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