December 3

In the Bleak Midwinter

by Gary Rosing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKlHh7MGnfw

This mournful, yet beautiful, Christmas Carol was written and published as a poem by Christina Rossetti in 1872.  Interestingly, while the original title was “A Christmas Carol”, which may have shown her intent, the poem wasn’t put to music until 1906 which is when it truly became a Christmas Carol.  She never lived to see it sung.

Christina lived in England where winters were “bleak and frosty” as described in the poem. We know that the weather in Bethlehem was probably not the same as the weather in England at Christmastime so we must assume that the author was speaking metaphorically about the condition of the world into which Christ came. I’m reminded of C.S. Lewis imagery in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe: “Always winter but never Christmas.” Author, Scott Aniol, describes it as “Sin had built up upon the world like ‘snow piled upon snow upon snow upon snow.’ This world was bleak.”

And it was into this bleakness that the God of glory descends. Into a lowly stable, and into the arms of a young couple, to break the spell of “always winter” and bring us into the warmth and light of his presence.  The poem ends with the author in awe of the gift of Jesus, recognizing that the only gift appropriate in return is the gift of her heart, devotion, and loyalty.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light”.