I've been thinking of Adam since yesterday. In our house, we always call December 23 "Christmas Adam" because it comes before Christmas Eve. But Adam and Eve have been part of the Christmas story since the middle ages. They, after all, represent the reason we need a Savior -- human hubris, the desire to be like God, and the conviction that we can decide for ourselves without considering God's input or commands. Without this "fall," we would never have needed Immanuel, Godwithus, Jesus Christ.
An old medieval carol, 'Adam lay ybounden' perfectly captures the fate of the fallen and the delight at our redemption. Listen to it here by the incomparable choir of Kings College-Cambridge:
And this is the text:
Adam lay ybounden,
Bounden in a bond;
Four thousand winter
Thought he not too long.
And all was for an apple,
An apple that he took,
As clerkës finden written
In their book.
Nor had one apple taken been,
The apple taken been,
Then had never Our Lady
A-been heaven's queen.
Blessed be the time
That apple taken was.
Therefore we may singen
Deo gratias!
Thanks be to God, indeed. See you tonight, God willing, either at the 5 p.m. family service, or the splendiferous celebration of Christmas in all its glory at 9 p.m.
+ Kit
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
Under some spiritual streams, Adam plays a central role in the birth of Jesus consistent to Paul's reference to the "first and second Adam." The etheric of Adam (actually witheld from Adam) entered into Jesus. Consider that the sheaths of Jesus had to be prepared to contain the Christ, a mighty spiritual being. It is not surprising that Jesus was a very unique being prepared to perform a role unequaled in human history.
ReplyDelete