Classic Poem

On the Judaean hills
Would I have seen the light
The watching shepherds saw,
Turning to noon the night?
Would I have seen the star
That new in heaven shone,
And followed with the few
The new-born Christ to own?

And if mine ears had heard
The Man of Galilee
Speaking from heart aflame
The Truth that maketh free,
Turning from priest and scribe,
Dead rite and parchment roll, —
Would I have hailed in him
A Prophet of the Soul?

Those words upon the mount,
By way-sides, in the town, —
Unwelcome to his time,
Now Holy Scripture grown, —
Would I have read in them
A message from on high,
Or joined the multitude
Who cried out Crucify?

Ah, vain for you or me
To question thus the Past!
Not then but now for us
The fateful choice is cast;
Ever the larger faith
Makes way 'mid doubt and scorn,
And in its latest word
Anew the Christ is born.

The true disciples they,
The wide earth o'er, who own
Truth in her manger low,
Ere yet she mounts the throne:
Who from the dead Christ's tomb
Take not the stones to slay
In blinded fear and rage
The living Christ to-day.

They hear the angels' song,
'T is they who see the light
The watching shepherds saw
Making the heavens bright:
They see the self-same star
O'er Bethlehem that shone,
And follow joyful forth
The new-born Christ to own.