December 19, 2020 (Saturday)
What is your favorite Christmas song? They come in many types and sizes. There are the happy jingles, like “Jingle Bells.” And the cute ditties like “Frosty the Snowman” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer.” The sentimental favorites such as “White Christmas” and “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” The majestic oratorio, Handel’s “Messiah.” The songs you may remember from a cantata or a musical. In recent years, “Mary, Did You Know?” has captured many hearts. And then the old standbys we know so well, “Silent Night, Holy Night,” “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” and many others. Do you have a favorite?
At times we sing the carols without much thought about their meaning, but every one of them is full of theology and thoughts of encouragement and spiritual strength that can lift our spirits if we take the time to read the words slowly and carefully. For instance, here are the words of the final verse of “It Came Upon A Midnight Clear:”
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.
Honestly now, have you ever really noticed that this grand old Christmas song relays God’s promise of a glorious future? God always has something better waiting for us.
It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.
Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O’er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o’er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.
O ye beneath life’s crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.
For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.