The Third Carol of Christmas

        They say the Irish saved civilization. Today they saved my blog.

The wexford carol is a beautiful old Irish song whose tune probably originated in the late 1700's though the words probably go even further about two-hundred years. As I listened to this haunting carol, I was struck by the depth of the words and how more of us could stand to sing this song around Christmas.


It begins with an exhortation reminding us about what Christ has done:

Good people all, this Christmas time,

Consider well and bear in mind

What our good God for us has done

In sending his beloved son.

It continues in the next verses to detail the shepherds hearing about Jesus, rejoicing when the see Him and the wise men coming from afar to seek Him.

   Many singers end this song by repeating the first verse again which I find quite appropriate. When we get too overwhelmed with the world's attempt to commercialize Christmas this season, good people, it might be well to "Consider well and bear in mind what our good God for us has done."

 Enjoy this lovely rendition by one of my favorite singers, Julie Andrews

Good people all, this Christmas time,

Consider well and bear in mind

What our good God for us has done

In sending his beloved son

With Mary holy we should pray,

To God with love this Christmas Day

In Bethlehem upon that morn,

There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide,

The noble Virgin and her guide

Were long time seeking up and down

To find a lodging in the town.

But mark right well what came to pass

From every door repelled, alas,

As was foretold, their refuge all

Was but a humble ox's stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep

Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep

To whom God's angel did appear

Which put the shepherds in great fear

Arise and go, the angels said

To Bethlehem, be not afraid

For there you'll find, this happy morn

A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind

The shepherds went the babe to find

And as God's angel had foretold

They did our Saviour Christ behold

Within a manger he was laid

And by his side a virgin maid

Attending on the Lord of Life

Who came on earth to end all strife.

There were three wise men from afar

Directed by a glorious star

And on they wandered night and day

Until they came where Jesus lay

And when they came unto that place

Where our beloved Messiah lay

They humbly cast them at his feet

With gifts of gold and incense sweet

 

      I like to think that as we wrap presents and lay them under the tree in the coming weeks, we will remember the gift of God's son, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger, that He might bear the sin of many and intercede for us the transgressors.