The Angel gabriel from heaven came
The angel Gabriel from heaven came, with wings as drifted snow, with eyes as flame: 鈥淎ll hail to thee, O lowly maiden Mary, most highly favored lady.鈥� Gloria!
鈥淔or know a blessed mother thou shalt be, all generations laud and honor thee; thy son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold, most highly favored lady.鈥� Gloria!
Text: Basque carol; para. Sabine Baring-Gould, 1834-1924
A rabbi friend told me that the Hebrew word for blessing and the Hebrew word for knee, share the same root-word. The rabbis, therefore, teach that God鈥檚 blessing is anything that brings you to your knees. Whether you drop to your knees in thanksgiving or find yourself crumbling to the ground in despair, God鈥檚 blessing is that God is with you.