THE OXEN

 I was in college with a minor in English when I had a class on Thomas Hardy and discovered his poem “The Oxen.” My college days are quite some time ago, but I remember this poem. I was captivated that animals would kneel at midnight on Christmas. I could picture them in the fields under a star-filled sky as they knelt reverently, heads bowed before their Creator. As I learned more about Franciscan spirituality, the poem became more than a charming folktale. St. Francis recognized the sacredness of all creation and his connection to all of it. He showed us how to be in relationship with animals. Francis considered them his sisters and brothers. Since all creation comes from God, all of creation leads back to God. Francis extolled birds and other creatures to give praise to their Creator. If we as human beings can give praise and reverence to God, why not animals? Francis used a real ox and donkey when he re-created the Nativity scene in Greccio in 1223—800 years ago. He didn’t add people. The animals were enough. Perhaps present-day oxen carry within their spirits the memory of that First Christmas when the world received its greatest gift-the Incarnation. Perhaps they do kneel at the stroke of midnight as they recall this gift. Perhaps our disbelief is why we cannot see it.

"The Oxen"
BY THOMAS HARDY

Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock.
“Now they are all on their knees,”
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.

We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.

So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
“Come; see the oxen kneel,

“In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,”
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.

Sister Gayle Rusbasan, OSF
Campus Minister
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL