When the Homily is about Immunology

Birth of the Theotokos

Thy Nativity, O Mother of God,
has brought joy to all the world;
for from thee arose the Sun of Righteousness,
Christ our God,
Who, having dissolved the curse, has given His blessing,
and having abolished death, has granted us life eternal.

The icon above depicts the birth of the Theotokos to Joachim and Anna. Some of the hymnology of the Church which relates to the Theotokos are amazingly profound and never cease to wow me - especially the Christmas hymns. I think in my "old" days I never really thought through the intensity of the Incarnation and how it must have worked in the life of the one who bore Him.

Joachim and Anna were freed from the reproach of childlessness
and Adam and Eve from the corruption of death, O Immaculate One, by thy holy nativity.
And thy people, redeemed from the guilt of sin,
celebrate thy birth by crying to thee:
the barren woman gives birth to the Mother of God and the nurse of our life.

the nurse of our life Think about that...amazing.