Category Archives: Christmas

In the Bleak Midwinter

winter_sunIn the bleak midwinter,
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 midwinter, long ago.

 

            This is my favorite hymn of Christmas.

For hundreds of years – through the early part of the 20th century – Northern Europe endured what would later be called a “mini-Ice Age.”  Heavy snows at Christmas were common. That far north, the wan sun rose late and set early. And in the hamlets and hovels, common folk shivered, praying for spring.

            In those times, the Winter Solstice had special meaning. Just when it seemed that the night would win, relentlessly slicing off moments of precious daylight until only a few remained, on this day, the bleeding stopping. And, moment by moment, day by day, the sun returned.

Sol invictus!

            Alone of the popular songs of Christmas, “In the Bleak Midnight” captures the desperation of nations crying for salvation, praying for the end of the darkness, the yearning for the light.

            Our faith-ancestors wisely coupled the pagan Solstice celebration with the Christ mass. Beyond the obvious linguistic connection between “sun” and “Son,” they also captured a deeper understanding, a deeper magic – the Return of the Sun/Son King to save a darkened land.

            The birth of Jesus, as Jeff Johnson notes, is the “centerpoint” of history, when – like a spearpoint – the divine explodes into the profane. The darkness that had prevailed so long could not withstand this moment, brighter than a billion billion supernovas.

            Jesu Christo invictus!

 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.

             Advent is the waiting, the yearning. The dark night.

But on Christmas morning, our long wait is over.

 Come, o come, Emmanuel …

 

           

“In the Bleak Mid-Winter “
Words: Christina Rosetti
Music: CRANHAM (Gustav Holst)

 

 

Spirituals: Christmas and the Eternal Now

The spirituals at Christmas

In this season, because I have been immersed in African American spirituals for the past couple of years, I find myself pausing a moment to ponder a different Child.

The religion of the slaves existed in the Eternal Now. They believed that the fragments of scripture they heard were stories of real people living today. The patriarchs live in Georgia. Mary and Joseph are traveling to Mississippi. Now. Father Abraham is Abraham Lincoln. Moses is Harriet Tubman. And across the Ohio River lies heaven or Canaan – or both. The spirituals have a thrilling sense of immediacy about them: “Were you there when they crucified my Lord. It causes me to tremble.” Now. I tremble now.

The birth of Jesus is a popular topic in many spirituals. Which makes sense, of course. Born in a stable or cave, surrounded by animals, nurtured by refugees, hunted by faceless oppressors, the advent of the Christ child was an instantly recognizable event to a captive people.

Consequently, spirituals about the birth of Jesus are among the most beloved of all — “Wasn’t That a Mighty Day When Jesus Christ was Born,” “Go Tell It on the Mountain,” “Rise Up Shepherds and Foller” and “Mary Had de Leetle Baby”:

 Mary had de leetle baby

Born in Bethlehem

Eb’ry time de baby cry

She rock in a weary lan’

           But my favorite is “O Mary, What You Goin’ to Name That Pretty Little Baby?” because of the tender urgency found in the words. The singer is standing outside the stall in Bethlehem and wants to know now what the Child will be called. It’s important. After all, there are shepherds to tell.

          And that is the great lesson to me on this Christmas season. I found it in a spiritual. Jesus Christ IS born today. Jesus is no less born today than He was born 2,000 years ago. Jesus is continually being born in the hearts of those who follow The Way.

          Now you there – sitting amid the pretty paper and charming bells of this manic, consumer-driven Christmas – listen up! Go tell it on the mountain … Jesus Christ IS born!