Love’s Furnace

The angel said to Mary ‘Do not be afraid, God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God’. Luke 1: 30 – 32

Forget not, Trinity, holy and glorious
That heaven’s bright prince came down to bestow on us
His love, as babe, into Mary’s fair womb.
For nine months he who is angels’ Lord
Was hidden, love’s furnace, in a little room
Humbler than all, whom all adored.
A pure lamb, he stole down to earth
To free us from our sin so blind.
No city home will shield his birth
His mother a stable for bed must find;
There poorest of the poor she lay
Nor wine nor meat for hunger’s sting
In the rude confines of the cattle bay
Where God was born, apostles’ king.
Cold and exile he did not scorn
In the donkey’s manger, that holy morn.
Tadg Gaelach O Suilleabhain.

May the trust of Mary troubled by her strange call
And Joseph’s encouragement beside her through all
Be God’s gift to us.
May the radiant brightness and light of the Star
The hope and longing of searchers traveling from afar
Be God’s gift to us.
May the wonder of shepherds surprised by God’s love
The joy of the angels who came from above
Be God’s gift to us.
May the peace of the Christ-Child in carved trough of stone
Sounding the word ‘Saviour’ fashioned by Grace alone
Be God’s gift to us
Crawford Murrey