As the Advent and Christmas season draw near, Lexham Press encourages all readers to cultivate a life of prayer and experience God in a new way this season.
The prayer below is excerpted from Fount of Heaven: Prayers of the Early Church edited by Robert Elmer. The hearts of the first Christians beat with praise for Christ. The strength of their devotion is remarkable, considering the times of uncertainty and persecution in which they lived. The prayers have been slightly updated to read more easily, but they retain their joy and mystery.
Blessings to you this holiday season!
GLORY TO YOU WHO BECAME LOWLY (A Christmas Prayer)
What mere human can declare the glory of the All-Life-Giver, who stepped down from majesty and humbled himself to become humanity?
You who lifted up humanity in your birth, lift up my weak mind to declare your birth and proclaim your grace.
How amazing is it that the Son dwelled completely in a body, that it was enough for him. Your will was fully contained, yet your bounds reached wholly to the Father. Blessed be he who, though without bounds, was bound!
Who can explain how, though you dwelled wholly in a body, you also dwelled wholly in all?
Your majesty is concealed from us, while your grace is revealed before us. I will be silent, O Lord of majesty, and I will tell of your grace. Your grace clung to you, while it bowed you down to our worst.
Your grace made you a baby, and your grace made you a man. Your grace straightened and enlarged your majesty. Blessed is the might that became little … and became great!
Glory to you who became lowly, though your nature is lofty. By your own will you became man, though you are God by nature. Blessed be your glory which put on our image!
Your hope brought new hope when ours had broken down. Blessed be the one who brought good news of hope!
Double was the happiness of those who saw your birth and your day, yet also happy are those who have not seen, but who have believed. Blessed is your happiness that is added to us!
Amen.
– Ephraim the Syrian
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More from the Lexham Press blog
“May the First Day of Yours Be Blessed”: Christmas Prayers from the Early Church- “Who Are You, That You Love Us So Much?”: Christmas Prayers from the Early Church
- “What Do We Call You, Lord?”: Christmas Prayers from the Early Church
- “Glory to Your Coming, Which Made Us Alive”: Christmas Prayers from the Early Church
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