December 14: Los Peces en el Rio
Third Week of Advent: Joy
December 14: Los Peces en el Rio (Spanish & Latin American) - Links & Lyrics Below
But look how they drink to see God being born . . . .
The Virgin is combing her hair
Between curtain and curtain.
This popular Spanish Christmas carol alternates between scenes of the Virgin Mary consumed in mundane tasks like combing hair and the fish in the river drinking to the newborn God in Christ.
The contrast between the devotion of the fish and Mary’s mundane distraction is startling. That’s not the way Christian art often portrays Mary!
But, a closer look tells a different story. Fish have always drunk in the river, even before the birth of Christ. That’s what fish do. The coming of God in the flesh transforms this into devotion because Jesus’ Incarnation and death reconcile God and creation.
For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, . . . making peace by the blood of his cross. Colossians 1:19–20 (ESV)
Because we have been reconciled to God in Christ’s Incarnation and death, mundane work like combing hair becomes acts of devotion. The Virgin and the fish are united in glorifying God in Christ.
We join them when we dedicate our deeds, all of them, to the Lord: Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord Colossians 3:23 (ESV).
Pastor Chris Jackson
St. Peter's Lutheran - Forestville
St. John Lutheran - Rankin
Spanish Lyrics
Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río
Pero mira cómo beben por ver a Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.
La Virgen se está peinando
Entre cortina y cortina
Sus cabellos son de oro
Y el peine de plata fina.
Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río
Pero mira cómo beben por ver a Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.
La Virgen lava pañales
Y los tiende en el romero
Los pajarillos cantando
Y el romero floreciendo.
Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río
Pero mira cómo beben por ver a Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.
La Virgen se está lavando
Con un poco de jabón
Se le han picado las manos
Manos de mi corazón.
Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río
Pero mira cómo beben por ver a Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.
Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río
Pero mira cómo beben por ver a Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.
English Translation
Why, look how they drink! The fish at the river
Look how they drink Because they saw God being born
They drink and drink and drink again
The fish at the river Because they saw God being born
Virgin Mary is brushing her hair
among curtains and curtains
her hair is made of gold
and the comb is made of high-quality silver
Why, look how they drink! The fish at the river
Look how they drink Because they saw God being born
They drink and drink and drink again
The fish at the river Because they saw God being born
The Virgin washes diapers
and hangs them on the rosemary,
the birdies singing
and the rosemary flowering
Why, look how they drink! The fish at the river
Look how they drink Because they saw God being born
They drink and drink and drink again
The fish at the river Because they saw God being born
The Virgin is washing herself
with a little bit of soap.
Her hands have been irritated,
the hands of my heart.
Why, look how they drink! The fish at the river
Look how they drink Because they saw God being born
They drink and drink and drink again
The fish at the river Because they saw God being born
Why, look how they drink! The fish at the river
Look how they drink Because they saw God being born
They drink and drink and drink again
The fish at the river Because they saw God being born
Comments
Post a Comment