“Glory to God in the Lowest” – SCN Encourager
How’s that for a provocative headline?
Don’t get upset with me.
I didn’t come up with it.
(Back in 1894, if fact.)
It was a simple line in his poem, Gloria in Profundis.
And in his typical paradoxical style, Chesterton modified something very well known – just one word – in order to draw attention to a point he felt worth making.
He didn’t want us to go waltzing through the holidays without remembering that the very first Christmas wasn’t a colorful, wildly popular, socially-trending soiree, but rather a simple one-of-a-kind happening that took place in a cold and dirty setting.
The double-take sparked by his line “Glory to God in the Lowest” still does the trick, don’tcha think?
Chesterton expressed that there is a seriousness about Christmas that makes it fun for all who open to catching its spirit.
And he modeled this in real-life with a sharp wit, unwavering good cheer, and a warm heart for all walks of humanity.
But he was rare in the way he could capture both sides of an equation in a single sentence.
“Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.”
Whoa.
That’s worth reading again.
There’s a poke in the ribs for you…
er, for me, I mean.
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