What Child is This? (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 296)
1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
on Mary’s lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
while shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the king,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
haste, haste, to bring him laud,
the babe, the son of Mary
2 Why lies he in such mean estate
where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
the cross be borne for me, for you;
hail, hail the Word made flesh,
the babe, the son of Mary.
3 So bring him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come peasant, king, to own him,
The King of kings salvation brings;
let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise the song on high,
the virgin sings her lullaby;
joy, joy for Christ is born,
the babe, the son of Mary.
Text: William C. Dix; Music: English ballad; Public Domain
Devotion
A quick glimpse behind the “God Pause” curtain: these meditations are written two or three months before production. What you read today was written during Advent—the darkest time of the year. Imagine my surprise when caroling among the Catholics at St. Benedict in White Earth. I opened their hymnal to “What Child is This?” and found it listed among the Epiphany hymns!
As days grow longer, “the silent Word is pleading.” What in the world does that line mean? Hold it a while longer. Let the silent Word bleed into, plead into… you.
Silent words are meant to be spoken.
Prayer
Gitchie Manitou, Wakan Tanka, Yahweh, One-God. With-Many-Names, the Babe the Son of Mary brings universal love through a particular tribe. Help us find our words in your pleading Word for all the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.