"What Child Is This": A Theological Reflection

Ever since I was a little boy I've loved Christmas, especially listening to Christmas music. I can thank my mother for my love of Christmas music, as she would always play her two cassette tapes of Christmas music over and over again at our home when I was a child.

My all-time favorite Christmas song is "What Child is This". This song is very rich theologically and can offer one a nice break from songs like "Jingle Bells" and "Frosty the Snow Man" during the Advent season. "What Child is This" was composed by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 while he was gravely ill. Many recognize this song because it was written to the tune of "Greensleeves", which is said to have been written by King Henry VIII.

The following is a theological reflection on the song "What Child is This".

1.) What child is this, who, laid to rest
On Mary's lap, is sleeping?

Michelangelo's "Pieta" comes to mind at the beginning of this verse! The sweet child that has come to bring salvation to man is born as a small, vulnerable child! Mary, the Mother of God, holds Him in her arms after His birth. But did she know that she would also hold Him in her arms after His death? Did she recall the prophesies of Isaiah about the sufferings of the Messiah? Soon she would hear the words of Simeon at the Presentation of Our Lord: "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed" (Luke 2:34). But how immense was Mary's joy, despite the future of her child, as she gazed on the face of Jesus



Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

If only we could see the many angels surrounding the manger scene! I imagine all the angels, like little children, smiling in amazement. The salvation of mankind has finally come! The long awaited Savior has been born!



The babe gathers shepherds around Him! But how is this, for the shepherds were men that were outcasts from society, trusted by no one? Nonetheless, Christ gathers all people to Himself!

This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:

I love how the shepherds guard the Christ child, just as they would have guarded their sheep! Such is a foreshadowing to the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John: "I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep...I will lay down my life for the sheep" (John 10: 11.15).



Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Christians believe that Jesus was born, suffered and died, and was raised from the dead for the forgiveness of sins. As Catholics, we also believe that Jesus is present in the Holy Eucharist. But do we "hasten" to greet Him, present in the tabernacles in our parishes, schools and hospitals? Do we realize that every time we receive Holy Communion that we are like living tabernacles, bringing Christ into our homes and workplaces? Like Mary, who ran to tell the good news of the Annunciation to her cousin Elizabeth (the Visitation), let us "hasten" to bring Christ laud (or praise)! Let us not be afraid to tell others about Christ, to say "Merry Christmas", and to have a dynamic faith!



2.) Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Jesus humbles Himself not only to become a man, but a poor man, being born in the midst of smelly animals. I recently told my students that Jesus being born in a stable in the fist century would be like being born behind a "Pizza Hut" today-not the noblest of places to give birth to the king of kings!



Nails, spear shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Jesus came for one purpose-the salvation of mankind! Although we love to imagine the Christ child wrapped in swaddling clothes, we must recall that Christ would also be "wrapped" in pain in order to save us from our sins: "He was pierced for our offenses, crushed for our sins, Upon Him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by His stripes we were healed" (Isaiah 53:5).



So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come peasant king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Incense, gold and myrrh were given by the "three kings", but, according to Dr. Scott Hahn, they were most likely sorcerers from the East*. These items would have been used by them when performing the Black arts (curses and spells). By laying these items at the feet of the Christ child the sorcerers are saying, "No more shall we use such things! We have found the truth by following the light of the star of Bethlehem!" And how appropriate are their words, for we know that this child will later proclaim, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12).



Christ the King: This feast was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to nationalism around the world. This feast reminds us that Jesus Christ is Our Lord and King. We owe our allegiance to Him alone!



Raise, raise the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

Soon Jesus Christ shall be born to us, the Savior of the world! How blessed are we to be able to know Our Lord and receive Him! Like the angels, let us "raise the song on high" and sing out, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests" (Luke 2:14).

*Read Dr. Scott Hahn's Article Here