Day 15: Dwelling

Another favorite Christmas poem-turned-carol of mine is “In the Bleak Midwinter” by Christina Rossetti. Her poetry captures the seeming incongruity of the God who cannot be contained – the God who reigns supreme on the throne – and the helpless, wriggling, (and hungry!) human babe. Using imagery from Revelation, she recognizes the important connection drawn from the birth of the Messiah to his glorification and our ultimate consolation. Jesus came as a man to dwell among us in our wintry bleakness, becoming our Savior and King forever. As a result of his successful work on the cross, one day the eternal dwelling place of God will be with man. This gift, this hope, is of inconceivable value. What can we possibly give him in return? Rossetti makes a perfect suggestion: our hearts.

Scriptures to consider:
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth…For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. John 1:14; 16-18

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4

Hymn to enjoy:
In 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 mid-winter,
Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold him
Nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away
When he comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter
A stable-place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty
Jesus Christ.

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.

Angels and archangels
May have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim
Thronged the air –
But only his mother
In her maiden bliss
Worshiped the beloved
With a kiss.

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.

Lyrics by Christina Rossetti (1872); tune by Gustav Holst (1906)

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