Luke 2:1-19Luke 2:1-19
This is the month, and this the happy morn,
Wherein the Son of Heaven's eternal King,
Of wedded Maid and Virgin Mother born,
Our great redemption from above did bring;
For the holy sages once did sing
That He our deadly forfeit should release,
And with His Father work us a perpetual peace.
- John Milton
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be enrolled. This enrollment first began in Judea, and everyone was required to go to his family city, there to be enrolled. It was thus Joseph and Mary, being descendants of David, were forced to go to Bethlehem, the city of David.
And it came to pass, that when they were there, her days were accomplished, that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her first-born Son, and wrapped Him up in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the Inn. And there were in the same country shepherds watching and keeping the night watches over their flocks. And behold an Angel of the Lord stood by them, and the brightness of God shone round about them, and they feared with a great fear. And the Angel of the Lord said to them: Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, that shall be to all the people: for this day is born to you a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord, in the city of David. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the Infant wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a manger. And suddenly there was with the Angel a multi tude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will. And it came to pass, after the Angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another: Let us go over to Bethlehem, and let us see this word that is come to pass, which the Lord hath showed to us.
And they came with haste, and they found Mary and Joseph, and the Infant lying in the manger. And seeing, they understood the word that had been spoken concerning this Child. And all that heard them wondered; and at those things that were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these words, pondering them in her heart.
No tramp of marching armies
No banners flaming far;
A lamp within a stable,
And in the sky a Star.
The midnight azure rifted,
And bent in level flight,
The mighty host of seraphim
Blaze out in Heaven's light.
The soft gray silence shivers,
And quivers wide apart,
At thrill of lofty chorals,
Flung straight from Heaven's heart.
Their hymns of peace and gladness
To earth the Angels brought,
Their Gloria in Excelsis
To earth the Angels taught;
When in the lowly manger
The Holy Mother Maid
In tender adoration
Her Babe of Heaven laid.
Thenceforth through endless ages
Full meed of joy and mirth
To flow in song and greetings
Around the Christ-Child's birth.
Born lowly in the darkness,
And none so poor as He,
The little children of the poor
His very own shall be.
No rush of hostile armies then
But just the huddling sheep;
The angels singing of the Christ,
And all the world asleep.
No flame of conquering banners,
No legends sent afar;
A lamp within a stable,
And in the sky a Star!
- Margaret E. Sangster
- text taken from Heaven's Bright Queen, by William James Walsh