NOEL

Grim was the world and grey last night:

The moon and stars were fled,

The hall was dark without song or light,
The fires were fallen dead.

.

The wind in the trees was like to the sea,

And over the mountains’ teeth

It whistled bitter-cold and free,

As a sword leapt from its sheath.

.

The lord of snows upreared his head;

His mantle long and pale

Upon the bitter blast was spread

And hung o’er hill and dale.

.

The world was blind; the boughs were bent,

All ways and paths were wild:

Then the veil of cloud apart was rent,

And here was born a Child.

.

The ancient dome of heaven sheer

Was pricked with distant light;

A star came shining white and clear

Alone above the night.

.

In the dale of dark in that hour of birth

One voice on a sudden sang:

Then all the bells in Heaven and Earth

Together at midnight rang.

.

Mary sang in this world below:

They heard her song arise

O’er mist and over mountain snow

To the walls of Paradise.

.

And the tongue of many bells was stirred

in Heaven’s towers to ring

When the voice of mortal maid was heard,

That was mother of Heaven’s King.

.

Glad is the world and fair this night

With stars about its head,

And the hall is filled with laughter and light,

And fires are burning red.

.

The bells of Paradise now ring

With bells of Christendom,

And Gloria, Gloria we will sing

That God on earth is come.

What an awesome expression of jubilation over the advent of the King. That last section in particular gives me chills. I suppose it’s one of the reasons why I love Christmas hymns so much, because they express such unbridled joy and euphoria over the arrival of the Savior. I’ve said it before, but I wish we’d sing those songs year-round. As triumphant as the resurrection was (and we sing many songs to that end), and as poignant as the death of Jesus was (and we sing many for it, too), the birth of Jesus deserves to be sung loudly from our pews, whether it is December, June, or any other month. It is an amazing thing to consider: God became a man. God wanted to dwell among us. God wanted to live with us and then die for us. That unfathomable degree of magnanimity is seen in the manger birth.

Thank God for it, both today, next week, next month, and forever.

~Matthew