In the Bleak Midwinter (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 294)
1 In the bleak midwinter, 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 midwinter, long ago.
2 Heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;
heav’n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign;
in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God almighty, Jesus Christ.
3 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.
Text: Christina Georgina Rosetti; Music: Gustav Holst; Public Domain
Devotion
Christina Rosetti (1830-1894), wrote only a few church hymns. Her poems, however, were loved and penned into many hymns. “In the Bleak Midwinter” is one of them. Although its melody signals a picturesque winter hymn, the last sentence draws me into the heart of prayer, a theme in this week’s readings planned in the heat of summer. “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.” Christina writes of giving God that which God longs for, and that which is ours to give: our heart. Jeremiah 31:33 speaks how God longs for the time when God’s laws would be written on our heart. It’s a good reminder to me that faith is not a head thing, but rather a heart thing, flowing into relationship with God and neighbor.
Prayer
Almighty Jesus Christ, we give our hearts to you. We are thankful for the love and grace that flow from yours. Amen.