Pause for thought: Lost in wonder, love and praise!

Lost in wonder, love and praise!

Insert pic Good King Wenceslas

Good King Wenceslas looked out
On the Feast of Stephen
When the snow lay round about
Deep and crisp and even
Brightly shone the moon that night
Though the frost was cruel
When a poor man came in sight
Gathering winter fuel

Hither, page, and stand by me,
If thou knowst it, telling
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?
Sire, he lives a good league hence,
Underneath the mountain
Right against the forest fence
By Saint Agnes fountain.

Bring me flesh and bring me wine
Bring me pine logs hither
Thou and I shall see him dine
When we bear them thither.
Page and monarch, forth they went
Forth they went together
Through the rude winds wild lament
And the bitter weather

Sire, the night is darker now
And the wind blows stronger
Fails my heart, I know not how
I can go no longer.
Mark my footsteps, good my page
Tread thou in them boldly
Thou shall find the winters rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.

In his masters step he trod
Where the snow lay dinted
Heat was in the very sod
Which the Saint had printed
Therefore, Christian men, be sure
Wealth or rank possessing
Ye, who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing.

James Morgan / Juliette Pochin

I love this Carol because it points to the action of King Wenceslas immediately after Christmas, on the Feast of Stephen, better known to many as Boxing Day. When all the world seems to be saying ‘thank goodness that’s over for another year, let’s go on a diet’, so we have Wenceslas springing into action to meet the needs of the poor on his doorstep. All through advent we have tried to encourage people to think of the true meaning of Christmas and now we have to think about the impact of the birth of the Christ child in us! What does he call us to be and how does that translate into action?

The practical nature of the actions of Wencelas (Bring me flesh and bring me wine,
bring me pine logs hither, Thou and I shall see him dine when we bear them thither), setting an example to his page as he went is contrasted with the arrival of the Kings to Worship the Christ this week at Epiphany. These other Kings of Wise men have travelled for many moths from their foreign lands following a star, with hearts full of hope. As we observe their arrival to worship the saviour and offer gifts let us also9 reflect on what we will give him in 2024. Perhaps the words of Christina Rossetti’s Hymn in the Bleak Midwinter help us here:-

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.

I like to dwell on these Wise men because of course they have to travel back to their foreign lands to share their ‘Epiphany’ that the Lord, our Saviour, is come. They travel with that precious message in their hearts. This is a message we must carry in our hearts too. This message of Christmas joy and peace which prompts us to action and to share this special message that we carry with us. The story of our salvation only begins with Christmas; before long our liturgical year will be pointing us towards Lent and Easter and of course the incarnation was not enough on its own. The Christ child, who fills us with wonder as God becomes man for us, will give us his all so that sin and death are defeated as in awe and wonder we all cry Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Revd Canon Richard Lowndes