SONG: Mary, Did You Know?
A beautiful song written in 1991 to lyrics from 1984 expresses the awe that the Theotokos must have felt knowing that her Son, is the Son of God, who would fulfill Scripture by healing the blind and raising the dead. While not an Orthodox hymn, it is a wonderful reflection on the miracle that is the nativity of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. There is some criticism, however, that the song underestimates the awareness of the Mother of God.
We can also see, as Orthodox Christians, the foreshadowing of the Passion of Christ, which we know is foundational to our understanding of joy and hope in the Church. We do not experience joy as boundless and full of gaiety; it is rather a quiet joy knowing that this joy is only possible through the suffering of our Lord, on the Cross. This can be seen in the way that the Theotokos is portrayed in the Church icons - never outright smiling. Her joy is tempered by knowing what would happen and she was at peace with this.
Lyrics (song on YouTube)
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has come to make you new?
This child that you delivered, will soon deliver you
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Will calm the storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy
Has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little baby
You kiss the face of God
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know? Did you know?
Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?
Mary, did you know? Mary, did you know?
The blind will see, the deaf will hear
The dead will live again
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak
The praises of the Lamb
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your baby boy
Would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy
Is heaven's perfect Lamb?
That sleeping child you're holding is the great, I Am
Mary, did you know? (Mary, did you know?)
Mary, did you know? (Mary, did you know?)
Mary, did you know? Oh
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary,_Did_You_Know%3F