Vat.sir.369

that he is from the light of the Father,
and is the image of his being,
and from before the worlds he exists,
and he is the Son of his being,
and to him [is] glory from all
creatures. Amen. And again from
this same book of Mar Ephrem,
on the word of our Lord, who said
that "I am the light of the world."
And he said: "If I am the light,
how am I the darkness? And if
I am the darkness, how
am I the light?" But see to whom he spoke,
and whom he called. He said, indeed,
"I am the light of the world,
and whoever comes after me
will not walk in darkness, but
will find for himself the light of life."
And again he said: "As long as I am
in the world, I am the light of the world."
And these words teach us
how he is light,
and how he is darkness. The light,
indeed, is in his essence,
and the darkness in his will. The light
is in his being,
and the darkness in his administration.
The light is in his revelation,
and the darkness in his hiddenness.
The light is in his word,
and the darkness in his silence. The light
is in his deeds,
and the darkness in his suffering.

And again he said: "I am
the bread of life, that came down from
heaven, and whoever eats of it
will not die for ever." And this
word teaches us how
he is bread, and how
he is life. The bread, indeed, is
in his body, and life in his divinity.
The bread is in his eating,
and life in his effect.
The bread is in his service,
and life in his power. The bread
is in his humility,
and life in his completion.
And again he said: "I am
the true vine, and you [are]
the branches, and my Father is the gardener."
And this word shows us
how he is the vine,
and how the gardener. The vine,
indeed, is in his humanity,
and the gardener in his divinity.
The vine is in his planting,
and the gardener in his cultivation.
The vine is in his fruits,
and the gardener in his conduct.
The vine is in his abundance,
and the gardener in his power.