A PRE-CHRISTMAS HYMN (part 1)

“In your womb, O all-blameless Theotokos,

freeing the human race from deadly hunger.” (Vespers Hymn, December 21, 2nd Day of Forefeast of Nativity)

Let’s reflect, my friends, on one of the hymns of the “Forefeast” of Nativity, although it will only begin six days from now (NC), on December 20. There is a lot of profound, biblical symbolism in these hymns, like the womb of the Theotokos being compared to a “threshing-floor” in the above-quoted hymn. This may not make sense to us, especially if we chant these texts in Greek or Slavonic, if we don’t look into it in advance.

What is a “threshing-floor” (ἅλως, гумнó)? It is a smooth and hard floor, where freshly-harvested wheat was spread out and manually beaten (before there was machinery), in order to separate and “reveal” the grains of wheat from the useless straw and husks. To help in this process, cattle and oxen were also led over the wheat, treading over it repeatedly to loosen the edible part of the grain from the inedible chaff that surrounds it. In biblical symbolism, the threshing-floor signifies (a place of) separation and revelation; judgment.

When we “behold” the womb of Mother of God as a “threshing-floor,” let’s note that this is a rather brutal image. It points to the difficult aspects of her vocation; of becoming, through a difficult journey, the “place” of God’s revelation of Himself to us. The Son of God is “separated out” from her womb, after a difficult journey to Bethlehem, seated on a donkey, – not unlike our Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, seated on a donkey, shortly before His cross and resurrection. But in her case, there were no crowds greeting or praising her along the way. There was nobody, and no room at the inn… Nonetheless, – spoiler alert, – this difficult journey culminated in great joy, so we by no means think about it in morbid terms.

This Nativity Fast or Advent, let’s think of our own journey to “Beth-le-hem” (meaning “House of Bread”) as a self-offering. Not a morbid self-offering, but one we accomplish in the peace and humility of the one Full of Grace, and in the light and lightness of the Cross. By the prayers of the Theotokos, Savior, let us all become nourishing vessels of Your light this season, that we may receive You, and then share You with others in our midst.