Last week someone, trying to make sense of the incarnation, said that "a certain proportion of God came to earth and the rest stayed in heaven..."  Whilst I follow their logic, and understand what they are attempting to do, it is an attempt to rationalise what is ultimately a mystery... how can God be simultaneously transcendent and immanent; in heaven and on earth, there and here... the answer is, we cannot know, but by faith we have the audacity to trust that somehow it is so...

Advent is a time of mystery, a time of looking forward and looking backward, of recognising the 'now and not yet', a time of seeming contradiction and yet...

BPW 140 - A Great and Mighty Wonder, first two verses... (attempting not to do much copyright breaching this year!)

A great and mighty wonder:
redemption drawing near!
the virgin bears the infant,
the prince of peace is here!
Repeat the hymn again:
'To God on high be glory,
and peace on earth. Amen.'

The Word becomes incarnate
and yet remains on high;
the shepherds hear the anthem
as glory fills the sky-
Repeat the hymn again:

here is a choral version: enjoy!