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(Editor's note: Bishop Macholz leads the Upstate New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In addition to this poem, he shares: "It is a joy to greet you in this most holy season of expectation and hope as we welcome the One, promised of old. May the words of my heart and mind that follow center your attention in the coming days and fill your life with joy at the gifts we receive in this Child of Bethlehem, Lord of all and Savior of the world.")

The darkness of the night,
of life and hope
was shattered by the
Light, a child, newborn,
who lay in mother's arms
and father's gaze in wonderment
and fear of God.

A promise, at this birth fulfilled,
made long ago
could now be heard
and seen and touched
amidst the lowing cattle
and a manger made to feed
the creatures of the earth;
it now became a feeding place
for us, our hunger and our
deep desires, our longings
for the One who made us restless,
searching for the Source who
set the stars in motion
and our lives reclining toward
the Holy One of God.

How did this first-time mother
hold this God who came in human form?
could she now see eternity
deep in his eyes and heart
and was the face of this newborn
reflective of the face of God?

Her gentle, calming voice
the lullabies she raised with words
and heart in song both spoken
and held deep within
brought calm to the dark night
and God in human form,
belying all the strife that
was to come, the suffering and death.

And in his face and voice of gentle
cries and eyes wide open with
the wonderment of new surroundings
we can see our hope, new life
and know that he has come for us,
for our salvation,
for the world.

So sing your songs, your gentle lullabies
with Mary and with Joseph, too
and pause on this most holy night
to offer thanks to God who said
and sent a Word made flesh for us,
this world,
eternity!

Start softly and join in
with others of all time and places
giving thanks to God who came
and comes and one day
will come finally
for once,
for all. Amen.[[In-content Ad]]

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