520. Another Sacramental Christmas Hymn

It hardly seems possible that it was nearly five years ago when a dear friend suggested that I write something like this. And now I'm taking another stab at it. What do I mean by "sacramental"? I mean a dimension of the faith that focuses on the gifts that Christ delivers through the means He has promised to use. As for what I mean by "Christmas," behold the following, for which I currently have no tune in mind:

Word to a Virgin once was passed:
Without the need
For mortal seed,
Her womb the Son of God would bear.
So be it, Lord: the First and Last,
Becoming human then and there!

Dreams to a carpenter were shown,
Commending both
The maiden's troth
And that which in her was conceived.
So Joseph took them as his own,
And on the saving Child believed.

To humble shepherds came the news:
A chorus bright
Outstarred the night,
Messiah's glory to declare.
They went and saw, and did not lose
An hour, this newborn hope to share.

When portents in the stars gave way
The wise mean heard
Prophetic word,
Borne though it was on evil lips:
To Bethlehem, the scriptures say,
The King of ages softly slips.

What ingots, incenses, and myrrhs
We'd gladly give!
And yet we live,
Lord, on the power of Your word,
Which living, saving gifts confers
Wherever faith by it is stirred.

Then let us praise that holy birth
Which made us one
With God's dear Son,
And to His precious promise cling,
Whereby salvation comes to earth
And mortals hear the angels sing!

ART: Luca Giordano, The Annunciation, dedicated to the public domain by the Metropolitan Museum of Art per Creative Commons CC0 1.0.