St. Ephrem’s poetry is a treasure during Advent, when we turn anew to Mary in reflection and prayer.
If our words seem to fall short, he draws us into the wonder, awe, faith and gratitude that is Mary’s heart -- love at Advent and throughout all seasons too.
One such poem is “Homily on the Nativity,” translated by scholar Sebastian Brock in the book “The Harp of the Spirit: Poems of Saint Ephrem the Syrian.” In it, Ephrem helps us see Mary as a young mother, cradling her baby as any young mother would, while giving a sense of the awesome nature of Mary’s baby, fully divine and fully human: The King before whom the angels; of fire and spirit tremble; lies in the bosom of a girl, and she cuddles Him as a baby. The heaven is the throne for His glory, yet he sits on Mary’s knee; the earth too is his footstool,yet like a baby he crawls beside her.
