In the Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frost wind made moan
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow
In the bleak midwinter, long ago

We’ve had a few hard frosts, a sprinkling of snow, our first taste of winter. Today is the first Sunday in Advent; we prepare for Christmas, relating the Christmas-world of busyness, trees and Santa to the Christmas-world of a baby, mother and manger.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ

We reflect on an engaged couple, an unexpected pregnancy, a homeless family; we remember angels and the super-natural interacting with ordinary people; we think of the journey from heaven to earth and the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
A breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall down before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Through Christina Rossetti’s poem we engage with the ordinary that can relate to – the weather, a baby, mother, stable, animals, visitors… We also see the extra-ordinary, the mystery, the ‘Lord God Almighty’, ‘angels and archangels’m, the God who became man.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His Mother only, in Her maiden bliss
Worshiped the Beloved with a kiss

As we engage with the ancient story we’re called to become more than an audience watching from a distance, entertained again by a familiar story. We’re required to respond, become participators in the drama.

In the coming weeks I shall be reflecting on presents to give this Christmas; though Advent I shall seek to answer: ‘What shall I give Him?’

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