Sura Geeyai

A heavenly song, a baby’s cry, is heard from far away,
a strand of wind, a scent of flowers, comes from that direction,
a song that outdoes the ringing of silver bells is heard,
who is it, this night, singing these enchanting hymns?

May peace be won for people of good heart,
may peace be won for all the creatures of the world,
so the angels sang out their heavenly song,
the divine baby, born in a poor hut, came into the world

The shepherds pipe their flutes along to the tune,
carrying lambs upon their shoulders, they come toward that place,
the host who saw the angels ask, where is the baby?
and the moment they see him, they fall and worship

A lullaby, now, is heard from that direction,
the baby, in his mother’s lap, sleeps in comfort,
the father stands behind, bearing the load,
here, the God-baby who becomes King of the world was born

This is a Nativity carol that unfolds the Christmas story as a scene of sound and wonder. From far off comes a heavenly song, a baby’s cry, carried on a strand of wind and a scent of flowers, a song that outdoes the ringing of silver bells, and the singer asks the question that opens the story, who is it, this night, singing these enchanting hymns?

The answer is the angels, and the hymn quotes their song almost exactly as Saint Luke records it: may peace be won for people of good heart, may peace be won for all the creatures of the world, the great Glory to God and peace on earth of the first Christmas. And it names the reason for their singing, the divine baby, born in a poor hut, came into the world.

The rest paints the beloved scene. The shepherds pipe their flutes along to the tune and come carrying lambs upon their shoulders, and when they find the child, the moment they see him, they fall and worship. The song ends in tender stillness, a lullaby is heard as the baby sleeps in his mother’s lap with the father standing behind. What the listener is left with is the whole first Christmas caught in music, the angels’ song of peace, the wondering shepherds, and a poor stable where the God-baby who becomes King of the world was born.