Paradoxes

-- from the Hymns of St. Ephrem the Syrian

In the days of the king who enrolled people
For the poll tax, our Savior descended
And enrolled people in the Book of Life.
He enrolled them, and they enrolled Him. On high He enrolled us;
On earth they enrolled Him. Glory to His Name!

...

This is the day when the high gate opened to us for our prayers;
let us also open the gates to the seekers who have strayed but sought forgiveness.
This Lord of natures today was transformed contrary to His nature;
it is not too difficult for us also to overthrow our evil will.
Today the Deity imprinted itself on humanity,
so that humanity might also be cut into the seal of Deity.
His swaddling clothes gave a robe of glory to human beings.