What Child is This?
“So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh. Come rich and poor to own him”
Written by Janet Ketteringham
This beautiful carol was written in 1865 and set to the tune of Greensleeves by Sir John Stainer and it is a lovely lyrical carol much loved by many people.
The carol takes us immediately to a very intimate moment between mother and child. The Baby Jesus is asleep, for which mum is probably truly grateful. Anyone looking after a babe knows that those periods of calm sleeping can be a welcome respite from feeding, cleaning and comforting a newborn.
The angels are singing sweetly and quietly, the shepherds keeping watch, shushing their dogs and shuffling in the doorway. People wonder why, if this baby is born of the Holy Spirit then what is he doing in this stable? There’s a pong of farm animals despite the clean hay in the makeshift crib; there’s a whiff of manure, even if Joseph and the shepherds have had a go at sweeping it up.
Nevertheless, there the Saviour of the world lies, peaceful, and a message is sent out by a star, by heavenly messengers – come and worship, bow down, bring what you can. Bring gold, bring frankincense, bring myrrh if you’re endowed with plenty. Bring a lamb, bring a casserole, bring cake if you’re not so well-off. But whoever you are, whatever job you have, position you hold or none, bring yourself and worship; bow down and acknowledge the Lord has come on earth.
This carol is asking us this simple thing: take the time, make the effort to be still and with all the angels in heaven, rejoice for the King of Kings is with us, here with us… us!f the overladen animal, the dust, the pot holes and the danger of falling in the darkness and of thieves and criminals hiding in the shadows. The moon and the stars being the only intermittent source of light.
Mary must have been comforted by the message from God brought to her by the Archangel Gabriel, that he had chosen her to be the Mother of His Son.
She was not travelling alone. Joseph her fiancé, was with her guiding them to Bethlehem and a much needed resting place.
The responsibility must have been overwhelming, so young, but her faith in God unshakeable
Don’t give up now Little Donkey .
Bethlehem’s in sight.
Journey’s end is near and the revelation of the Birth of God’s gift to a troubled World carried by the most humble and honoured member of the animal world.. A Donkey.