Ponders the new he keeps concealed:
His bride-to-be in found with child—
A father’s name is not revealed.
As Joseph slumbers fitfully
An angel enters Joseph’s dream
To tell him that this comes from God
And things are not as they may seem:
“O, Joseph, banish all your fears
And take Young Mary as your wife
And be a father to God’s child
Who comes to share in human life.”
Good Joseph, born of David’s line
(Which matters not in days of Rome)
Bequeaths a human royalty
And gives the Boy a godly home.
A jealous Herod fears this King,
So Joseph takes them speedily
To Egypt, where again he works,
To care for his small family.
An angel tells that Herod’s dead,
So Joseph brings them all back home;
He brings them to quaint Nazareth
And raises God’s Son as his own.
---C. Marie Byars, 1999 (c)
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4 comments:
Nice poem.
Thanks for visiting my blog once again. The discussion is hardly what I'd call a fray, since it's primarily among Episcopalians and Orthodox, both groups being rather famous for their courtesy. The idea being kicked around is just that. You're quite right, let's get the Word of Salvation out to as many as we can. God will overlook our bickering, I hope.
The Greeks celebrate Christmas on the same calendar as the Lutherans. We have the same customs as you mentioned in your comment. My four boys are grown up now, but it wasn't too long ago that they still asked, "Where's my St Nicholas gifts?" Oops! "Uh, didn't you find them? We must've hid them too well. Look again tomorrow morning!" Then we'd hurriedly get together the contents of their "socks" for the morning of Dec 7th. When they were kids, small toys, trick type stuff, an orange or two, bags of Hannukah gelt (chocolate coins), a pocketbook sized spiritual book, etc. When they got older, mainly the ceremonial stuff—chocolate coins and oranges, and maybe something of practical value, but never electronics. On the morning of Christmas, the usual blitz of presents, and then on Epiphany, usually some small gift, usually something edible, but for sure, a party to close the Christmas season.
Except for Christmas itself, we don't do these things anymore, at least not yet, until maybe the next generation comes into the family. As of yet, four unmarried sons trying to get a foothold in the world. Then, comes marriage for some of them, God willing.
Happy Christmas to you all.
Christós gennátai! Dhoxásasthe!
Christ is born! Glorify Him!
thanks, marie. i've been better lately and i appreciate your prayers. the Lord is faithful and i know that He helps me through each and every day. if you want something specific to pray for, pray that i sleep well. i sleep long enough, but my quality of sleep isn't great and i wake up exhausted.
so how are you!? HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! (mine was nov. 26 -- our bdays are close!)
merry, merry CHRISTmas!!
w*
Well, just hang in there! My best friend from childhood had her birthday on the 26th, same year as mine!!
I'll visit your site sometime, again, too.
Hi Marie!
Thanks for the christmas wishes and for leaving a comment (replied on my blog) Christy and I saw a combined tuba and flute concert yesterday - we are inspired to make more music now!
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