Quote of the Week

The feet of the humblest may walk in the fields
Where the feet of the holiest have trod.
This, this is the marvel to mortals revealed
When the silvery trumpets of Christmas have pealed,
That mankind are the children of God.

- Phillips Brooks

Christmas Break (and a Few Old Carols You've Never Heard Before)

Since this week is Christmas, I'm taking a break from blogging. Normal posts will resume next Monday, Dec. 31. In the meantime, here are some old Christmas carols that I found, and which are in desperate need of a comeback. They probably wouldn't fit in a church service, but perhaps on a Christmas comedy album of some kind.

First up is an old English classic going back centuries, "The Cherry Tree Carol." It narrates an event that takes place just after Joseph finds out that Mary is pregnant, but before the angel visits him to explain the nature of the conception. It gives you a rather unconventional perspective on the holy family--see Joseph's "answer most unkind" in the verses below:

Joseph and Mary walked through an orchard green,
Where was berries and cherries as thick as might be seen.
O then bespoke Mary, with words so meek and mild,
"Pluck me one cherry, Joseph, for I am with child."
O then bespoke Joseph, with answer most unkind,
"Let him pluck thee a cherry that brought thee now with child." 
O then bespoke the baby within his mother's womb:
"Bow down then the tallest tree for my mother to have some."
Then bowed down the highest tree unto his mother's hand.
Then she cried, "See, Joseph, I have cherries at command!"
O then bespoke Joseph: "I have done Mary wrong;
But now cheer up, my dearest, and do not be cast down.
O eat your cherries, Mary, O eat your cherries now,
O eat your cherries, Mary, that grow upon the bough."
Then Mary plucked a cherry, as red as any blood;
Then Mary, she went homewards all with her heavy load.

Another old carol, this one from Ireland, makes the unusual choice of asking the angels to shut up and the star to stop shining (but as you'll see, it's for a very good reason):

Oh! cease, ye blessed angels, such clamorous joys to make!
Though midnight silence favors, the shepherds are awake;
 And you, O glorious star! that with new splendor brings
From the remotest parts three learned eastern kings,
Turn somewhere else your luster, your rays elsewhere display;
For Herod he may slay the babe, and Christ must straight away. 

This interesting angle might just be due to the temperament of the hymn-writer, though, which appears to be rather dour. Another verse suggests that maybe we ought to be mourning rather than rejoicing, because Jesus had to be born in such unfitting circumstances:

But why should we rejoice? Should we not rather mourn
To see the hope of nations thus in a stable born?
Where are his crown and scepter, where is his throne sublime,
Where is his train majestic that should the stars outshine?
Is there no sumptuous palace nor any inn at all
To lodge his heavenly mother but in a filthy stall?

Here's a carol ("The Holy Well") that reflects on Jesus' boyhood, narrating an episode in which the young Savior is goes out to play with the neighborhood kids. But they bully and taunt him because he was "born in an ox's stall." He returns to Mary with tears "trickling from his eyes like waters from the rock" and explains what happened. Mary then responds with a rather alarming suggestion. We pick up the story as Jesus returns from being bullied:

Sweet Jesus turned him round about,
To his mother's dear home went he,
And said, "I have been in yonder town,
As far as you may see:
I have been down in yonder town,
As far as the Holy Well,
There did I meet with as fine children
As any tongue can tell.
I said, "God bless you every one,
And your bodies Christ save and see!
And now, little children, I'll play with you,
And you shall play with me."
But they made answer to me, 'No,'
They were lords' and ladies' sons,
And I the poorest of them all,
Born in an ox's stall." 
[Mary:] "Though you are but a maiden's child,
Born in an ox's stall,
Thou art the Christ, the King of heaven,
And the Savior of them all!
Sweet Jesus, go down to yonder town,
As far as the Holy Well,
And take away those sinful souls,
And dip them deep in hell!"

Thankfully, the carol doesn't leave the story at that rather startling act of Marian judgment. It goes on to record Christ's response, along with a cameo by the archangel Gabriel:

"Nay, nay," sweet Jesus smiled and said,
"Nay, nay, that may not be,
For there are too many sinful souls
Crying out for the help of me."
Then up spoke the angel Gabriel,
Upon a good set steven,
"Although you are but a maiden's child,
You are the King of heaven!" 

Finally, here's another old hymn which is generally conventional and altogether lovely, except that the meaning of one of the words it uses has changed since it was written. This is from verse 3 of "A Child This Day":

Then was there with the angel
An host incontinent
Of heavenly bright soldiers
Which from the Highest was sent.

It makes you wonder why we ever stopped singing these, doesn't it? Here's wishing you a merry (and continent) Christmas!

Saturday Synaxis

Sweet Child of Bethlehem, grant that we may share with all our hearts in this profound mystery of Christmas. Pour into the hearts of men the peace which they sometimes seek so desperately and which you alone can give them. Help them to know one another better and to live as brothers, children of the same Father. Awaken in their hearts love and gratitude for your infinite goodness; join them together in your love; and give us all your heavenly peace. Amen.

- John XXIII

Photo of the Week

Here we know that Christ our brother 

Binds us all as by a cord: 

He was born of Mary mother 

Where the mountains praise the Lord!

- from verse 2 of the hymn "Now the Joyful Bells A-Ringing"

(Photo: Altar and artwork in the Grotto of the Nativity, Bethlehem)

Quote of the Week

"Nothing can make a man truly great but being truly good,

and partaking of God's holiness."

- Matthew Henry

Saturday Synaxis

Non nobis Domine!—

      Not unto us, O Lord!

The praise or glory be

      Of any deed or word;

For in thy judgment lies

      To crown or bring to nought

All knowledge or device

      That man has reached or wrought.

And we confess our blame—

      How all too high we hold

That noise which men call fame,

      That dross which men call gold.

For these we undergo

      Our hot and godless days,

But in our hearts we know

      Not unto us the praise.

O Power by whom we live—

      Creator, Judge, and Friend,

Upholdingly forgive

      Nor fail us at the end:

But grant us well to see

      In all our piteous ways—

Non nobis Domine!—

      Not unto us the praise!

- Rudyard Kipling

A New Christmas Hymn: The Simplicity Carol

Here's a new Christmas carol I wrote for this Advent season, focusing on the simplicity of Christ's birth, the simplicity of answering his call of salvation, and the simple stillness and peace that he offers us. It's written to the tune "Repton," which is most famous as the British tune of the old hymn "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind." You can hear my hymn sung (fittingly, in a rather poor and humble voice) by clicking on the Soundcloud player below the lyrics.

The Simplicity Carol

Be still, O bustling earth, and wait
Beneath the starry sky;
Take rest from all your restless haste
And listen for the angels' praise:
Your King is born tonight! (x2)

That starry night in Bethlehem,
The world, it looked away
From weary travelers seeking rest,
And so the One that Heaven sent
Was laid upon the hay. (x2)

In simple, homeless poverty
Creation's King was born:
Not in a palace opulent,
A refugee, an immigrant,
God takes on human form! (x2)

This Christ, who came in humble peace
While others looked away,
He still is searching longingly
For willing hearts who will receive
The offer of his grace. (x2)

You need not wealth nor fame nor works
To have this King come in;
Just rest your weary spirit in
The Savior born in Bethlehem;
Be still and welcome him! (x2)

Photo of the Week

Come and manifest the favor

God hath for our ransom’d race; 

Come, Thou universal Savior, 

Come and bring the gospel grace!

- Verse 3 of the hymn "Light of Those Whose Dreary Dwelling," by Charles Wesley

(Photo: Interior of the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem) 

Quote of the Week

“Because we believe in God, and in His Holy Spirit, we believe that difficulties will be greatly sanctified to us, and that they are only placed before us as stepping-stones to grander results. We believe in defeats, my brethren; we believe in going back with the banner trailed in the mire, persuaded that this may be the surest way to lasting triumph. We believe in waiting, weeping, and agonizing; we believe in a non-success which prepares us for doing greater and higher work, for which we should not have been fitted unless anguish had sharpened our soul. We believe in our infirmities, and even glory in them; we thank God that we are not so eloquent as we could wish to be, and have not all the abilities we might desire, because now we know that the excellency of the power shall be of God, and not of us. Faith enables us so to rejoice in the Lord that our infirmities become platforms for the display of His grace.”

- Charles H. Spurgeon, a prominent Baptist preacher in 19th-century London