They say on that first Advent night
As shepherds shuddered, felled by light,
The choirs of angels through the sky
In voices pure and sweet did cry:
"Fear not!
Fear not, O poor humanity -
No - cease to tremble, rise and see
His love as light from heaven stream.
Flee, Wrath, for Mercy reigns supreme!
We sing tonight of boundless joy.
To you is born a baby boy
In Bethlehem: this Shepherd King
Shall bear your sins through suffering.
Beneath his reign all strife shall cease -
Goodwill to all, and on earth peace.
Lo! Christ is come with you to dwell,
The Lord of Love, Emmanuel."
***
Since then have passed two thousand years
And more. Yet still, as that night nears,
New voices echo all around
To lull us with their gentle sound
And all the Advent season long
Peal forth their reassuring song:
"Fear not!
Fear not the lies of man's devising,
Of climate change and oceans rising;
Come hurricane or drought-parched land -
Our great God has it all in hand.
If ice caps melt, if forests burn,
'Tis but to hasten Christ's return.
Rejoice, then, and be ne'er dismayed!
The earth and all on it was made
For us alone. Come greater need,
He'll give us more. What sin, then, greed?
So, Christmas shoppers, comfort ye
And go, consuming joyfully."
O Church, O wondering world, what shall we do
To tell the fallen angels from the true?
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