We Must Be Born as He is

As we contemplate this text, let us remember that the Nativity and Theophany were celebrated on the same day in the early Church,

“It was He who was begotten of Divinity,

according to His nature,

and of humanity,

which was not according to His nature,

and of baptism,

which was not his habit;

so that we might be begotten of humanity,

according to our nature,

and of Divinity,

which is not according to our nature,

and of the Spirit,

which is not our habit.”

St. Ephrem the Syrian, Homily on Our Lord, 2.1.