I chose this poem at the last minute, not realising until quite late that it was Friday! It is “Love Came Down at Christmas” by Christina Rossetti.
Love shall be our token,
Christina Rossetti (1830—1894)
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
Poem 353. Love Came Down at Christmas
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
This simple poem celebrates the Christian belief of the Nativity of Jesus Christ and says that members of the faith will recognise one another by the love they show to all, just as their Messiah did.
The first stanza reminds us of the Nativity, where “Love came down” with “Star and angels” giving the sign to those who sought the humble manger.
The second stanza speaks of the devotion of true Christians to their creed and the object of their worship, Jesus, and then asks what sign or token should they use to recognise one another and proclaim their fervour?
The third stanza answers with the only appropriate choice: although Christianity is often depicted by the crucifix and the symbols of Easter, the true core of the religion is, or should be, the love shown to all people as well as to their God. This is a powerful reminder that the essential message of Jesus was love:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The Gospel according to John 13:34-35. From the New King James Version of The Bible.
Rossetti’s poem eloquently expands on this crucial point. Love is to be their plea (prayer), their gift (from God and amongst themselves and to others) and their sign (for recognition). I like the poem because it is short and easy to explain 😉 but it is also a very beautifully written reminder of Christianity’s core value which organised religion often seems to overlook.