The Eighth Day of Advent

In the Bleak Midwinter (arr. Mark Hayes)

The poetry for this carol takes some license, setting Jesus’s birth in a frosty, windy scene, though we know He was born in a much warmer climate. Nonetheless, the world was cold and frozen to Him while on earth. The poem contrasts His humble birth with the glory He is due (a lowly stable, a breastful of mother’s milk, and nearby adoring animals looking on was enough for this King. God Himself, who cherubim worship, humbled Himself by taking on flesh as a small baby in order to accomplish that for which the Father sent Him: to take on the sins of the world to remove enmity between God and man, so that God looks upon us favorably with love and grace because of Jesus Christ’s atonement ). The poem ends recognizing that since He has shown infinite grace towards our guilt, we have but gratitude to give to Him.

In the bleak mid-winter
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
Worshipped 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.

The Eighth Day of Advent

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