'"Make straight the way of the Lord", as the prophet Isaiah said.' (John 1.23, cf. Isaiah 40.30.)
Highway 10, Saudi Arabia.

The Little Road to Bethlehem, c. 1946, words by Margaret Rose (d. 1958), music by Michael Head (1900-76). Choir of Selwyn College, Cambridge (2018).

As I walked down the road at set of sun,
The lambs were coming homeward one by one.
I heard a sheepbell softly calling them,
Along the little road to Bethlehem

Beside an open door as I drew nigh,
I heard sweet Mary sing a lullaby.
She sang about the lambs at close of day,
And rocked her tiny King among the hay.

Across the air the silver sheepbells rang.
"The lambs are coming home," sweet Mary sang.
"Your star of gold, your star of gold is shining in the sky.
So sleep, my little King, go lullaby."

As I walked down the road at set of sun,
The lambs were coming homeward one by one.
I heard a sheepbell softly calling them,
Along the little road to Bethlehem

In Heaven
Stephen Crane

XVIII

In Heaven,
Some little blades of grass
Stood before God.
"What did you do?"
Then all save one of the little blades
Began eagerly to relate
The merits of their lives.
This one stayed a small way behind
Ashamed.
Presently God said:
"And what did you do?"
The little blade answered: "oh, my lord,
"Memory is bitter to me
"For if I did good deeds
"I know not of them."
Then God in all his splendour
Arose from his throne.
"All, best little blade of grass," He said.

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, you have stooped to raise fallen humanity by the child-bearing of blessed Mary; grant that we who have seen your glory revealed in our human nature, and your love made perfect in our weakness, may daily be renewed in your image, and conformed to the pattern of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
—David Silk