One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. Proverbs 11:24-25
Good King Wenceslas looked out,
on the Feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even;
Brightly shone the moon that night,
tho’ the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
gathering winter fuel.
“Hither, page, and stand by me,
if thou know’st it, telling,
Yonder peasant, who is he?
Where and what his dwelling?”
“Sire, he lives a good league hence,
underneath the mountain;
Right against the forest fence,
by Saint Agnes’ fountain.”
“Bring me flesh, and bring me wine,
bring me pine logs hither:
Thou and I shall see him dine,
when we bear them thither.”
Page and monarch, forth they went,
forth they went together;
Through the rude wind’s wild lament
and the bitter weather.
“Sire, the night is darker now,
and the wind blows stronger;
Fails my heart, I know not how;
I can go no longer.”
“Mark my footsteps, good my page;
Tread thou in them boldly:
Thou shalt find the winter’s rage
Freeze thy blood less coldly.”
In his master’s steps he trod,
where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod
which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure,
wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor,
shall yourselves find blessing.
J. M. Neale and Thomas Helmore in “Good King Wenceslas” a 13th century carol from Finland, translated to English in 1853.
Today marks ancient carol #8 of 8 and perhaps my favorite Christmas carol aside from “O Holy Night”. Why do I love it so much. The entire focus of the lyrics emerges as a generosity quest.
On the day after Christmas, the feast of Stephen (remembering the first Christian martyr), this carol chronicles the pursuit of King Wenceslas and his page to bring a feast to a poor peasant.
I call it a quest because the wind and cold should have kept him from his goal, but nothing would sway him. And he uses the adventure as an illustration for all people after him with these words.
“Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing, Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing.” It echoes the wisdom of Solomon today.
Those with wealth and rank possessing discover something only by giving. If they give freely, they find even more. But if they don’t, they will find only poverty.
Find yourself in the words of this hymn and play you part all who number among the “wealth and rank possessing.” Think of someone to bless this Christmas and don’t let anything get in your way of delivering it.