"A Christmas Hymn," or rather, an Advent poem
This poem’s title would imply it belongs in the Christmas season. But I would suggest it fits just as well in Advent, especially as we consider the Gospel for this coming Sunday, the First Sunday in Advent: Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matt. 21:1-9). The poem’s epigraph is from Luke’s account of Palm Sunday.
“A Christmas Hymn” by Richard Wilbur
And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out. - St. Luke XIX.39-40
A stable-lamp is lighted
Whose glow shall wake the sky;
The stars shall bend their voices,
And every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry,
And straw like gold shall shine;
A barn shall harbor heaven,
A stall become a shrine.
This child through David’s city
Shall ride in triumph by;
The palm shall strew its branches,
And every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry,
Though heavy, dull, and dumb,
And lie within the roadway
To pave his kingdom come.
Yet he shall be forsaken,
And yielded up to die;
The sky shall groan and darken,
And every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry
For stony hearts of men:
God’s blood upon the spearhead,
God’s love refused again.
But now, as at the ending,
The low is lifted high;
The stars shall bend their voices,
And every stone shall cry.
And every stone shall cry
In praises of the child
By whose descent among us
The worlds are reconciled.
(from Christmas Poems, pp.118-9)
You can listen to Richard Wilbur read the poem HERE.
James Tissot’s “The Procession in the Streets of Jerusalem”
In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, “the whole city was shaken up, saying, ‘Who is this?’” They were shaken as in an earthquake, but not by holy fear and love. Of course, the little children sing the praises of Jesus with great faith. And later that week, when He dies, and also when He rises, the earth itself shakes and quakes in worship of its Lord. In Luke’s account, Jesus tells us that if mankind does not praise Him, then certainly the rocks will. The Lord of the cosmos will be acknowledged by His creation, one way or another. And so it will also be on the Last Day: “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).
This poem picks up its theme from Jesus words about the stones, and runs that through His whole life and work. The refrain of the stones’ cry echoes in each stanza, responding in joy to the Lord’s birth, life, death, and glory, and crying out to men to join them in singing His praises. And if the stones serve their King, then how much more shall we? For He did not become a stone, nor any other piece of His creation, except that of human flesh and blood. The Creator is with His creatures. Our God is a Man. In this way, He atones for the sinful sons of Adam and daughters of Eve; and thereby He raises up the rest of creation with us, even the stones.
Finally, contemplate the last stanza in the light of Advent—in light of the lowliness of His coming in the flesh and in the Means of Grace. What is the “now,” and what is the “ending”? Christmas and Easter? First coming and Final coming? The lowliness of the baby in a manger was lifted high by the song of the angels and the worship of the shepherds. The lowliness of a dead man was also lifted high on a cross so that He might draw all people to Himself. Lowly water, bread, and wine are lifted high by the Word of God and put into the service of His grace. When He comes again in glory, the first will be last, but the last will be first and so also then the low will be lifted high. As we enter Advent, meditate upon the blessedness of Christ’s great exchange for you, which has brought about reconciliation with God.
My “bonus” poetry recommendation this week is this little book of Christmas Poems from Everyman’s Library Pocket Poets. It might make an excellent Christmas present, and it would certainly enhance anyone’s contemplation of the Christmas season.