The Army of Heaven

The shepherds keep watch on the hillside,
and shout as the night sky is torn:
An army comes out of the midnight,
but see! They are bending their swords.
For this is the host of God's angels,
who perfectly follow his word.
Their general now lies in a manger,
and all of the earth shall be turned.

The sword that barred Adam from Eden
shall harrow the thorn-woven ground,
preparing the earth to receive him
who sleeps in Eve's daughter's arms now.
For this is the weapon of doomsday,
more power than any can tell:
That God should let death e'er consume him
will shatter the strongholds of hell.

The shepherds sink down in amazement
and cover their eyes and their ears,
and still they are pierced by the angels
with song beyond all they can hear.
For this is the army of heaven
arrayed in its orders and ranks,
who knows that the word has been given,
and all of the earth shall give thanks.

So now they call all to the manger;
the trumpet sounds out the advance
to follow their lord and commander,
surrender to hammer and lance.
The shepherds rise up at the summons,
give heed to their orders and run
to worship God dwelling among us
and tell that all warfare is done.

Rembrandt Annunciation to the shepherds – http://www.facebook.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50707534

And As We Slept

For Christmas, but also the end of Advent, to the tune FINLANDIA:

And as we slept, the sky awoke with angels;

and as we dreamed, a new world came to be.

A light shone out through clouds of death and danger,

a brand-new star to show what none had seen:

the king of kings laid helpless in a manger,

the lord of lords a gentle prince of peace.



And only they who kept the midnight vigil,

who stayed awake in weeping or at watch,

beheld the light, the new king's sign and sigil,

though what it meant their human hearts knew not—

that David's son was earth and heaven bridging—

'til angels sang that they could look on God.



And off they ran to offer up their worship,

or took the road, led onward by that star,

and fast or slow, their driving on was urgent,

for now the light shone brightly in their hearts

to show new paths, to lead them in their searching,

and bring them still in safety through the dark.



And when we wake, that light will still be shining

to draw us on, right to the manger side.

Wake us, O Lord, to see your world arriving;

awake our hearts, enkindled by your light.

Open our eyes to see you here beside us,

and keep us all forever in that sight.

Annunciation to the shepherds By Rembrandt – http://www.facebook.com, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=50707534

Angels

A thousand eyes watch over me,
a thousand wings my shield,
a host of angels hovering,
on feathered winds they steal.

With every move I brush against
the pinions of their gaze,
and bordered by a downy edge
I walk the dusty ways.

Before me and behind they go;
they circle me about,
and every breeze that whispers low
is comfort in my doubt

that I am held in tenderness
and touched by love unseen,
that all this world of wilderness—
and I—have been redeemed.

Tobias and the Angel by Filippino Lippi, created between c. 1472 and c. 1482 – National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C., online collection, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=45723195

Seraphim O’er Bethlehem

 “Rejoice, and glory be on high!”
A blaze of eyes and wings:
“Oh, peace on earth! Goodwill!” they cry,
and hail the King of Kings.
 Each man averts his own dull eye
 and dares not dream these shining things.
  
 The swifter wings than any wind,
 the brighter eyes than flame
 shine out, and in the silence din
 the newborn savior's name,
 for now are herds and angels kin
 that heaven's son as human came.
  
 “Rise up and cast away your fear,”
(Their feathers fall like snow.)
“for even now, your Lord is near.
 Rise up, oh shepherds; go!”
And in a light more clear than clear
 the shepherds look at last and know.
  
 These whirling wings and wind of speed
(as swift as God hears prayer),
 unblinking eyes on every deed
 (as God in tender care):
 as near as this, he comes—oh, heed!—
 all joys and sorrows here to share.
  
 The shepherds rise and start to run—
 this news has giv'n them wings!
 Their brighter eyes than any sun
 see light in everything,
 e'en in the lowly gifts homespun
 they take to offer to their king.
  
 No more is earth from heaven lost,
 afloat in endless void,
 when angels on our winds are tossed
 about our songs employed,
 and gifts of none and every cost
 are by a pauper god enjoyed.