The Glorious Mystery

O people, you who sat in darkness, weeping,
On you the Light of God is newly shown.
See Heaven’s Dawn, within the stable sleeping;
Where King has chosen manger over throne.

The courtesy of heav’n is never-fading,
In graciousness the Lord of Grace is born,
The Prince of Peace is giv’n to humble maiden,
To bear, to birth, to mother and to mourn.
 
His human weakness holds the strength of heaven,
This tiny fist shall shatter Sheol’s gate.
How is such effluence cased in human leaven?
How can His splendor in this clay await?

O Lamb, slain from before the world’s foundation,
How can this clay encase your holy Light?
This tiny frame inside your vast creation
Reveal the Morning Star to human sight? 

Expression of the Logos, changing never,
Embracing His creation in its frame.
Eternity and time conjoined forever,
A mortal, but from age to age the Same.

O glorious myst’ry, Deity made mortal!
So high, so low, Eternal framed in time.
How can it be that through this earthly portal
Creation births Creator, King sublime?
 
“Glory to God!” The morning stars are singing,
The Cornerstone of heav’n is laid on earth!
Across the skies, angelic hosts are bringing
The wondrous news of our Redeemer’s birth.