Categories: spiritual-writings
Date: 22 October 2008 12:58:14
I was particularly struck by reading Hymn 26: I note 'particularly' as I am finding all of his 'Hymns on Virginity' striking. The images used, and the thoughts brought out, truly assist me to draw deeper into the mystery of the Incarnation as well as the Christian journey through life.
Laziness means I am not going to type out the entire hymn, and a quick Google hasn't provided a link; but I hope this gives you a taste of this hymn. Here he looks at a number of women in the New Testament and describes them as spiritual brides of Christ. As the Introduction to this hymn states in the book I have, "From him as Creator and Lord they has received all; out of his gift each of them gave to him as a human being.", this being based on St Ephrem's words in verse 16.
Women as diverse as Mary & Martha, the widow who gave a mite, the woman with a hemorrhage, the girl raised by Jesus , the mother of James and John [even when such requests seem to earn Jesus' reproach, St Ephrem finds somthing praiseworthy] and Pilate's wife, among many others, are used by St Ephrem as models for us to emulate and to explain something of the nature of God. For example, the woman who cried out "Blessed is the womb that bore you!" is an example for us to pursue God's blessing and the widow whose son was raised reminds us that God acts on his own volition. In his poetic verses examples and actions that may have passed me by are brought out through his vivid descriptions and comments.
In the previous Hymn, 25, St Ephrem focuses on the presence of God in all followers of Christ, particularly St John and Mary, the Mother of our Lord, but he also mentions Anna and St Peter's mother-in-law.
Here are a few quotes from Hymn 26:
str. 4.1-2,5-6:
Blessed are you, woman, most enviable of women,
who kissed the holy feet! [cf Luke 7:38-50]
...
Blessed are your sufferings that were healed by the Word
and your sins that were forgiven by a kiss.str. 6:
Blessed are you, woman! The flow of mercy
met you and healed the flow of your blood. [cf Mark 5:25-34]
That Sun who dispelled from souls
the frost of hidden death --
its hidden flash radiated and dried up
every fresh anger the mind perceives.
With the tip of your finger, you tasted the healing of the springs
of the Sea of benefits.str. 7.1-2, 8:
Blessed are you, woman!, living in poverty,
who put two treasures on High. [cf Mark 12:41-44]
...
Who is not reproved by greed?
And in whom is not hidden a foul manner of life?
Who has not stored up and set [aside] too much,
so that it reproaches him that he has not been purified?
Let one who resembles you, O widow, praise you,
for my mind is too poor to gaze at you.
By your poverty is convicted and exposed
the provision of our greed.str. 10.1-2, 5-8:
Blessed are you, too, O widow,
for the world was dead, and your son was dead. [cf Luke 7:11-17]
...
Your wailing did not summion the Physician,
nor did prayer make our Saviour bend down.
Mercy made him condescend -- the One who came down and gave life
to the world and to the youth.