Christmas 2021 - Oh Holy Night
Oh Holy Night - a virtual greeting card
Since childhood, my favorite Christmas song has been Oh Holy Night. As I learned to play the piano at 12 years old, I wanted to teach myself Oh Holy Night. I couldn’t wait! There is something magical about the rise and fall of the melody, the gentleness and truth of those lyrics. Some of my favorite versions of the song include the country artist John Berry and a recent addition of a live performance by Selah.
The story of the song itself serves as a miracle that we even know the song at all. The story goes that it was written in France in the early 1840s. The French Catholic Church later had issues with the writers of the song and forbid it being sang in church. It began popularity in America a decade or so later when an abolitionist writer shared an English translation of it along with his writings about the horrors of slavery.
These past years bring me pause at the lyrics of the song and cause some deep sadness about the situation in our nation. I’ll avoid that topic by simply saying that we seem far away from the image of Jesus and spirit of Christianity shared in these beautiful words. Christmas comes with a certain simple magic that often for me can only be found in quiet, combined with peaceful love from family and friends. Perhaps we can recapture a bit of that spirit this season. “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is Peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name, all oppression shall cease”. I want to be like this Jesus. His law is love and Gospel is peace…PEACE. Wow. Not a weapon, or an amendment, or conformity, but peace. My brain explodes a little bit every time I read that.
As you enjoy time away from the work and focus on rest, family, friends, your furry friends, or whatever Christmas time is for you please accept my simple challenge of re-reading these powerful words and asking yourself how you can live this spirit in 2022. Know that I will be doing that very thing!
Oh Holy Night Lyrics
O Holy night! The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees; O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born
O night, O Holy night, O night divine!
Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the Wise Men from Orient land
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our trials born to be our friend
He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your King; before Him lowly bend
Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name, all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim