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William Chatterton Dix moved as a young man from Bristol, England to Glasgow where he pursued a career managing a marine insurance company. However, his true passion was poetry. Dix fell seriously ill, and was confined to his bed for an extended period of time. He underwent a true spiritual crisis during this illness, and spent much time in prayer and the reading of Christian literature. He came through the crisis with strengthened faith and devoted much of his later poetry to Christian themes. He wrote a number of hymns, at least three of which have survived to this day –– "As with Gladness, Men of Old" and "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus" and “What Child Is This.” "What Child Is This" was derived from a longer poem, "The Manger Song." It was first published in 1865 in Britain, and quickly became popular in the United States as well. But like any great hymn, the text only comes alive when wedded to a great tune. The poem was matched with a familiar English pub tune, a love song called “Greensleeves,” which is at least 100 years older than the words. Some of us will remember “Greensleeves” from the old Lassie TV show. The three verses tell the story we have experience over the past several days quickly, and then sets us on a future trajectory. You can look it up – verse 1, the telling of the Christmas story. Verse 2 – the humble origins and an invitation to response – “the silent Word is pleading.” Verse 3 – our response. It is to that third verse and our response that we now turn, today, tomorrow. “”What shall I bring him,” another hymn asks. “Give him my heart,” is the response. “I’ll play my best for him,” that little drummer boy offers. Simeon, an old man, offers a blessing to the baby boy, taken by his family to the temple. Anna, a prophet, offers her praise. It is not so much an easy target to compare the consumption and commercialization of this season with the nature of giving we encounter here as it is a reality check, a clarifying moment, an extraordinary opportunity. When we refocus the question from what can I get out of this to what can I offer, life is transformed. Looking for something – Anna and Simeon. They find it, and when they do, they move to the point of giving it away. It is the question that in its asking puts every other question in context, and the pursuit of its answer launches the journey of a lifetime. What child is this? Who is he? Who will he become? What will it mean for me and for us to follow him? Two old temple worshipers give us an early answer, as does this great hymn. Salvation. That’s what child this is, a child who will change everything – the world, you, me, the church – everything. Let us in haste, quickly, come to worship him, and then with
equal zeal, claim his news in our hearts, and share it with
all the world. Merry Christmas – even now. Amen.
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