DAY 7

WHAT TO GIVE THE KING WHO HAS EVERYTHING

“In the Bleak Midwinter,” Christina Rossetti employs many contrasts to describe the coming of our Lord.  In the fourth verses she speaks of the angel and archangels who “thronged the air.”   The mighty angels of God were sent to announce and celebrate the coming of Christ.  We are not told in the birth narrative of Christ that his mother Mary kissed him but undoubtedly she did. The carol states,

But only His mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

The mighty power of heaven worshiping Christ contrasted with the gentle kiss of a mother.  All I can say is, “WOW!”

Most of the Christmas carols we sing recount for us different events in the birth narrative of Christ.  Then they leave us with a thought to ponder.  This carol ends in that same vein.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give Him –
Give my heart.

What will you give to him?  You may say, “I do not have anything to give.  I am not talented.  I do not have material wealth.  I do not have influence.” Each of us has a heart.  That center of our being which all else in our life flows from.  That is really what our Lord desires.  Not just a part of our heart, but rather the whole of it.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.  (Ephesians 3:14-19)

This Advent season, in response to the greatest gift ever given to you, give back to him your entire heart.

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER

by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
Snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter
Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When He comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim
Worship night and day,
A breast full of milk,
And a manger full of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels
Fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel
Which adore.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air –
But only His mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshipped the Beloved
With a kiss.

What can I give Him,
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man
I would do my part;
Yet what I can, I give Him –
Give my heart.