The first year of our Savior’s Birth is the beginning of good things and the foundation of life. It bears a multitude of victories and the fullness of helps. Like the first day in Genesis, the great pillar of creatures, it bears the structure of creation; so the year of the Firstborn bears help for humanity.
In the second year of our Savior’s Birth, the Magi rejoice and the Pharisees grieve. Treasures are opened, kings are troubled, and infants are slain. For in that year desirable and dreadful offerings were presented in Bethlehem: love offered gold, while envy offered infants by the sword.
The day of Him who enlightens all rejoices in His Birth. It is a pillar of rays that drives away the works of darkness by its beams. In the pattern of that day when light was created and split the darkness spread over the beauty of creation, the radiance of our Savior’s Birth split the darkness that lay upon the heart.
The first day, the head and beginning, is a type of the root that made everything grow. Our Savior’s day is far more glorious: it is a tree planted in the world. His death is like a root in the earth, His Resurrection like its crown in heaven; His words reach every direction like branches, and His Body is its fruit for those who eat.
Let the second day praise the Birth of the Son, whose voice at the beginning commanded the firmament and it came to be, separated the waters above, and gathered the seas below. He who divided water from water stooped from the Watchers and came down to humanity. In place of the waters gathered at His command, the Fountain of Life burst open and gave drink.
On the third day let us weave a crown of psalms with hymns and present it with one voice for the Birth of Him who made buds and flowers spring up on the third day. Now He who makes everything grow has Himself come down and become the Holy Flower. From the thirsty earth He sprang up and ascended to adorn and crown the victors.
On the fourth day let us give thanks for the Birth of Him who on the fourth day created the pair of lights. Fools worshiped them and became blind. The Lord of the lights came down and shone upon us from the womb like the sun. His splendors opened the eyes of the blind; His rays gave light to those who wandered.
On the fifth day let us praise Him who on the fifth day created creeping things and dragons, from whose kind came the serpent that deceived our mother, the thoughtless maiden. The deceiver who mocked the maiden was exposed as false by the Dove. From the innocent womb [the Wise One dawned and came forth] and crushed the crafty one.
On the sixth day let us praise Him who created Adam on the sixth day, whom the Evil One envied. Pretending friendship, the deceiver cheered him and handed him poison in food. The Medicine of Life came near to both: He put on a body and approached them both. The mortal tasted Him and lived through Him; the devourer swallowed Him and was emptied by the very swallowing with which he ate Him.
On the seventh day let us sanctify the Holy One who sanctified the Sabbath to give rest to living creatures. The Good One, who does not grow weary, cares for humanity and cares for the animals. When freedom fell beneath the yoke, He came to birth and became a servant in order to set it free. In the judgment hall He received the blow [of His servant]; as Lord He broke the yoke that lay upon the free.
On the eighth day, which circumcised the Hebrews, let us give thanks to Him who commanded His namesake Joshua to circumcise with flint the people whose body was circumcised while its heart remained pagan within. Behold, on the eighth day the Circumciser of all came to circumcision as a Child. Though Abraham’s sign was upon His flesh, the blind daughter of Zion profaned it.
On the tenth day let us praise Him through its number. For yod, the first letter of the beautiful name Jesus, has the value ten. When counting reaches ten, it turns back and begins again from one. O great mystery in Jesus, whose power turns creation back again!
The Firstborn who purifies all, on the day of His purification, purified the purification of the firstborn and was presented. The Lord of offerings became in need of offerings and offered a bird. In His Birth the types were fulfilled; in His purification and circumcision the figures reached fulfillment. He came down and paid debts by His coming; in His Resurrection He went up and sent down treasures.