“‘Except ye become as little children.’ How are we to be born again, simple children with wondering eyes?
“We must learn to lie in helpless dependence, to open our mouth wide that it may be filled, to speak with halting tongue the language we think we know; we must learn above all our own ignorance, and keep alight and cherish the flame of innocency in our hearts.
“It is a tired world, my brethren, and we are most of us tired men and women who live on it, for we seek ever after some new thing. Let us pass out through the gate into the Kingdom of Heaven and not be tired any more, because there we shall find the new thing that we seek. Heaven is on earth, the Kingdom is here and now; the gate stands wide to-night, for it is the birthright of the Eternal Child. We are none of us too poor, or stupid, or lowly; it was the simple shepherds who saw Him first. We are none of us too great, or learned, or rich; it was the three wise kings who came next and offered gifts. We are none of us too young; it was little children who first laid down their lives for Him; or too old, for Simeon saw and recognised Him. There is only one thing against most of us—we are too proud.
“My brethren, ‘let us now go even to Bethlehem, and face this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.’”
The lights were out in the church when the Recluse came to fetch the Child. She was still kneeling by the crêche, keeping watch with the wonderful figures of fire and mist.
“Was this a dream or the other?” said the Child.
“Neither,” said the Recluse, and he blessed her in the moonlit dark.
The air was full of wonderful sound, voices and song, and the cry of the bells.
The Manifestation
God said; “Let there be light”; and in the East
A star rose flaming from night’s purple sea—
The star of Truth, the star of Joy, the star
Seen by the prophets down the lonely years;
Set for a light to show the Perfect Way;
Set for a sign that wayfarers might find;
Set for a seal to mark the Godhead’s home.
And three Kings in their palaces afar,
Who waited ardently for promised things,
Beheld, and read aright. Straightway the road
Was hot with pad of camel, horse’s hoof,
While night was quick as day with spurring men
And light with flaring torch. “Haste, haste!” they cried,
“We seek the King, the King! for in the East
His star’s alight.”