Virginal Conception, Virgin Birth

Lo! newborn Jesus

Lo! newborn Jesus
Soft and weak and small,
Wrapped in baby's bands
By His Mother's hands,
Lord God of all.

Lord God of Mary,
Whom His Lips caress
While He rocks to rest
On her milky breast
In helplessness.

Lord God of shepherds
Flocking through the cold,
Flocking through the dark
To the only Ark,

The only Fold.

Lord God of all things
Be they near or far,
Be they high or low;
Lord of storm and snow,
Angel and star.

Lord God of all men, –
My Lord and my God!
Thou who lovest me,
Keep me close to Thee
By staff and rod.

Lo! newborn Jesus
Loving great and small,
Love's free Sacrifice,
Opening Arms and Eyes
To one and all.

[Christina Rossetti, The Complete Poems, (London: Penguin, 20012), p. 83, 84]

How can a man comment on the Virgin Birth of Jesus? It takes a woman’s touch. Joseph, and all men by necessity stand on the outside nervously looking in on the birth event. Joseph’s world and ours is upended by the trusting surrender of Mary to our God. We are bystanders, but the sword that pierced the heart of Mary will pierce our own hearts also. “The busy world is hushed, the dear Christ enters in.” The surrender of Mary calls for our own surrender, not just once, but many times over the days and years of our lives.

It is the high and solemn responsibility of Joseph to model and teach the Christ Child what it means to be a man in this wicked world. Mary cannot do that; it is neither her calling nor her gift. Joseph, what has Mary done? Her action will define the very calling of your life and ours. None of us are left outside the stable. We stand shoulder to shoulder with you beside the manger looking in and watching, caring, loving, and strangely proud. The living God has become a living man, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.