"The next day John (i.e. John the Baptiser) again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, 'Look, here is the Lamb of God!' " (John 1.35-36)
"Behold the Lamb of God" from Messiah by GF Handel, in a 1979 performance by the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, Toronto, directed by Ivars Taurins.
Prayer
You are our eternal salvation,
The unfailing light of the world.
Light everlasting,
You are truly our redemption.
Grieving that the human race was perishing
through the tempter's power,
without leaving the heights
You came to the depths in your loving kindness.
Readily taking our humanity by Your gracious will,
You saved all earthly creatures, long since lost,
Restoring joy to the world.
Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,
and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.
By Your first coming, make us righteous;
At your second coming, set us free:
So that, when the world is filled with light
and you judge all things,
We may be clad in spotless robes
and follow in Your steps, O King,
Into the heavenly hall.
—Unknown Author, 10th century
This Endris night
anon. 5th century.
This endris night I saw a sight,
A star as bright as dry;
And ever among, a maiden sung,
'Lullay, by, by, lullay.'
This lovely lady sat and sung,
And to her child did say:
'My son, my brother, father, dear,
Why liest thou thus in hay?
My sweetest bird thus 'tis required,
Though thou be king veray;
But nevertheless I will not cease
To sing, by, by, lullay.'
The child then spake in his talking,
And to his mother said:
'Yea, I am known as heaven-king,
In crib though I be laid;
For angels bright down to me light:
Thou knowest 'tis no nay:
And for that sight thou may'st delight
To sing, by, by, lullay.’
'Now sweet son, since thou art a king,
' Why art thou laid in stall?
Why dost not order thy bedding
In some great kingès hall?
Methinks 'tis right that king or knight
Should be in good array:
And then among, it were no wrong
To sing, by, by, lullay.'
'Mary-mother, I am thy child,
Though I be laid in stall:
For lords and dukes shall worship me,
And so shall kingès all.
Ye shall well see that kingès three
Shall come on this twelfth day;
For this behest, give me thy breast,
And sing, by, by, lullay.'
'Now tell, sweet son, I thee do pray'
Thou art my love and dear—
How should I keep thee to thy pay,
And make thee glad of cheer?
For all thy will I would fulfil—
Thou knowest well, in fay;
And for all this I will thee kiss,
And sing, by, by, lullay.'
'My dear mother, when time it be,
Take thou me up on loft,
And set me then upon thy knee,
And handle me full soft;
And in thy arm thou hold me warm,
And keep me night and dry,
And if I weep, and may not sleep,
Thou sing, by, by, lullay.'
'Now sweet son, since it is come so,
That all is at thy will,
I pray thee grant to me a boon,
If it be right and skill—
That child or man, who will or can
Be merry on my day,
To bliss thou bring—and I shall sing,
Lullay, by, by, lullay.'
May the Lord, who has called out of darkness into his marvellous light, bless us and fill us with peace. Amen.