Christmas Every Week: Of Our Lord
Arnold Kellett's poem reminds us that the very measuring of the years should prompt Christians to justify their name.
To purchase a copy of Arnold's book Kellett's Christmas please click on http://www.amazon.co.uk/Kellets-Christmas-Arnold-Kellett/dp/1858521157/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1231273574&sr=1-4
A laser-beam in Bethlehem
Once burnt all time in two;
Before or after Christ we date
Every kingly potentate
From Rome to Timbuktu;
And every fact of history
Is registered in years BC,
Or privileged to qualify
For status Anno Domini;
And even atheists agree
To mark the time in strict AD,
And give to God his due.
O Light of civilising love,
Uniquely once you burned!
Yet still the gods of Mars and Thor
Ordain each brutalising war -
How little we have learned!
And how much better we should be
Than those who lived in mere BC!
Then let's wage war on sin and shame,
And justify our Christian name!
Thy Kingdom come! We'll work and pray;
The Year of Our Lord shall dawn today -
A title truly earned.
