Carol: How Far Is It to Bethlehem? – Frances Alice Chesterton
Tune: STOWEY
This carol has been sung by choirs for many years (especially children) but has not appeared in many congregational books until more recently. You may not be familiar with it at all, but its opening line… today’s Carol Line… is worth noticing.
Though for most of us, geographically Bethlehem is halfway around the world, during this season it is as close as our imagination! That little town in Judea: how still we see it lie under those silent stars, even as in its dark streets the Everlasting Light is shining. There are rounded roofs and flat roofs; for some reason, Bethlehem is usually blue! Awash in the reflection of the night sky I guess!
How far are we from the stable? Not very far really. We conjure up the images from Christmas cards,
Sunday school posters, church pageants -- from all kinds of past experiences. Cows,
sheep, oxen, donkeys, chickens, doves – none of which are mentioned in the
gospel accounts by the way! But the rugged situation, the weary travelers, the
recently-delivered young woman, the rejected-from-the-inn couple with their
newborn baby, the hay-filled feed trough – THOSE images we can rely on as we
sketch the scene in our mind, or perhaps on paper or canvas.
Come with me, will you? Step out of your need for absolutes
and concrete realities. Join me in that holy moment when with Joseph’s help, Mary
first cradles her Son. Are you there with me? Are we there yet? We don’t have
to go far because those images are embedded into our filmstrip from earliest
childhood memories. They have developed over time… perhaps matured… but Bethlehem
is never far away when we need to go there. We have been given a rich
imagination for such a time as this.
During the bustle of the next few days, when you need to
find Jesus in the middle of all the celebrations of His birthday… go to
Bethlehem. Find him there in your mind. After all, it’s not that far, is it?
Mormon Tabernacle Choir Sings This Carol
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-vmHSes9i4
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