Angels, from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Shepherds, in the fields abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with man is now residing,
Yonder shines the infant Light:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations,
Ye have seen the Infant’s star:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
Saints before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear,
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King!
James Montgomery, 1816
Read Luke 2:25-32
(I admit, one of the things that irritates me around this time of year is the neverending sanctimony in the countless television shows and movies declaring “that’s what Christmas is all about.” Honestly, very few of them since Linus have even been close. Simeon, though, as this fourth stanza hints at understood exactly what the birth of Jesus meant. I can’t read his words without being overwhelmed.)