Hear the Voice of My Beloved

Okay, so this is not a Christmas song, nor even a hymn, strictly speaking. But the scripture reading for today in the Catholic liturgy was from Song of Solomon and it reminded me of this beautiful song. It's one of my very favorite songs of all time, especially as sung by Cynthia Clawson (see link to the video, below). I meant to post it several weeks ago, then I forgot and couldn't remember which song it was I intended to post -- until today when I was reminded of it. So I'm posting it today, lest I forget again.

* Maranatha * is an Aramaic expression usually translated as "Come, Lord" and associated with the second coming of Christ.

1

Hear the voice of my Beloved

Gently call at close of day.

Come, my love, oh come and meet me

Rise, oh rise, and come away.

2

Winter's dark will soon be over

And the rains are nearly done.

Flowers bloom and trees are budding;

Time for singing has begun.

3

I have waited through the shadows

For my Lord to call for me.

Now the morning breaks eternal;

In His light, His face I see.

Now the morning breaks eternal

And at last His face I see.

4

When you see the fig tree budding,

You will know the summer's near.

When you hear the words Iv'e spoken,

You will know my coming's near.

Keep on listening my beloved,

For my coming's very near.

Songwriters: Bill Gaither, Gloria L Gaither, Ron Griffin.

Please take a listen:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-FGjI4WVG4

Song of Solomon 2:8-14

The voice of my beloved! behold, he cometh leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills.

My beloved is like a roe or a young hart: behold, he standeth behind our wall, he looketh forth at the windows, shewing himself through the lattice.

My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone;

The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land;

The fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.

O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

This Advent/Christmas hymn is from the 16th century, its authorship unknown. The tune and harmonies commonly used today were composed by Michael Praetorius in 1609. The original lyrics were written in German, and were translated by Theodore Baker in 1894 into the text most well known to English speakers today:

Lo, how a rose e'er blooming,

From tender stem hath sprung.

Of Jesse's lineage coming,

As men of old have sung;

It came, a flow'ret bright,

Amid the cold of winter,

When half spent was the night.

Isaiah 'twas foretold it,

The Rose I have in mind,

With Mary we behold it,

The virgin mother kind;

To show God's love aright,

She bore to men a Savior,

When half spent was the night.

* * *

The tradition of Christ being born at midnight has no scriptural basis, per se. There are indications that the birth took place at night. Luke 2:8-9 "And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them" announcing the birth of the savior. But the exact timing of the midnight hour is of less literal than spiritual importance. The darkest hour of the night, particularly when associated with the winter solstice, is the moment when the light begins to return and banish the darkness.

The theme of darkness vs light -- and the symbolism of Christ as light -- permeates the scriptures:

Isaiah 9:2 

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined."

John 1:4-5 

"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not."

John 12:46 

"I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."

John 8:12 

"Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

* * *

The symbolism of the Rose is up for debate. Various passages of scripture have been cited as likely sources for the analogy.

Solomon 2:1 

"I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley." This reference evokes some Catholic sources who claim that the focus of the hymn was originally upon Mary, the "mystical rose".

Isaiah 11:1 

"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots." 

Isaiah 35:1 

"The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose." 

This seems to be a more solid Biblical basis for the imagery in the hymn. 

* * *

In any case, it is a most beautiful song, and one of my favorites. 

In the Bleak Midwinter

 1

In the bleak midwinter frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.

Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

2

Our God, heaven cannot hold him, nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

3

Enough for him whom cherubim worship night and day,

A breastful of milk and a mangerful of hay;

Enough for him whom angels fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel which adore.

4

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;

But only his mother, in her maiden bliss,

Worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.

5

What can I give him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man I would do my part.

Yet what I can I give him, give my heart.

Christina Rossetti

Bible scholars now believe Jesus was born in the spring, not in midwinter. Well, the Bible never said the birth took place in winter, anyway. It wasn't until the Catholic church co-opted the pagan celebrations of winter solstice that the Christmas observance was scheduled for midwinter. Winter solstice has been ritually observed by practically every culture and every religion throughout recorded human history.

The crux of the lyric, of course, is the last line. A more modern rendition of the song lyric paraphrases slightly --

Yet what can I give him? Give him my heart.

Luke 2

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In

"I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In" is an ancient English Christmas carol. The earliest printed version of the song is from the 17th century. Its authorship is unknown.

The modern lyrics are from an 1833 version by the English lawyer and antiquarian William Sandys, and consist of nine verses.

As with most folk music, the song touches on its subject without a great deal of concern for historic detail or accuracy. Its aim is to convey the story in a way that is simple and memorable. This carol conveys the major elements of the story of the birth of Christ: Bethlehem; the holy family Joseph, Mary, and the baby; the appearance of the angels. The three ships are thought to possibly be a reference to the three Wise Men, specifically the camels on which they rode -- often called "ships of the desert." 

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

I saw three ships come sailing in

On Christmas day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three

On Christmas day, on Christmas day?

And what was in those ships all three

On Christmas day in the morning?

Our Saviour Christ and his lady

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

Our Saviour Christ and his lady

On Christmas day in the morning.

Pray whither sailed those ships all three

On Christmas day, on Christmas day?

Pray whither sailed those ships all three

On Christmas day in the morning?

O they sailed into Bethlehem

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

O they sailed into Bethlehem

On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the bells on earth shall ring

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

And all the bells on earth shall ring

On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the angels in heaven shall sing

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

And all the angels in heaven shall sing

On Christmas day in the morning.

And all the souls on earth shall sing

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

And all the souls on earth shall sing

On Christmas day in the morning.

Then let us all rejoice amain

On Christmas day, on Christmas day;

Then let us all rejoice amain

On Christmas day in the morning.

Luke 2

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. 

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 

15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. 16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. 18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

Matthew 2

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. 3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. 7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. 

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Will the Circle Be Unbroken? (The original version)

 1 

There are loved ones in the glory

Whose dear forms you often miss,

When you close your earthly story

Will you join them in their bliss?

2 

In the joyous days of childhood,

Oft they told of wondrous love,

Pointed to the dying Savior,

Now they dwell with Him above.

3 

You remember songs of heaven

Which you sang with childish voice,

Do you love the hymns they taught you,

Or are songs of earth your choice?

4 

You can picture happy gath’rings

Round the fireside long ago,

And you think of tearful partings,

When they left you here below.

5 

One by one their seats were emptied,

One by one they went away,

Now the family is parted,

Will it be complete one day?

Refrain:

Will the circle be unbroken

by and by, yes, by and by?

In a better home awaiting

in the sky, in the sky?

Author: Ada R. Habershon