Christmas Day
Mercy Me’s album The Christmas Sessions came out in 2016, so it would have been around that time I first heard their rendition of "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day." To my knowledge, it was the first time I listened to the song, and since then, it has been one of my favorite Christmas carols. Recently, I learned the song comes from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem "Christmas Bells," written during the Civil War. I should probably not be surprised that a song written nearly 160 years ago is still relevant today.
The song begins with the Christmas message, "Of peace on Earth, good will to men." This is a message of hope, encouragement, and peace. As the song continues, the narrator acknowledges his despair that there is no peace on earth and hate is strong. This is not how the story ends, though. The narrator remembers, "God is not dead nor does He sleep." God will prevail over everyone and everything contrary to His good plan.
I need this reminder of God’s goodness and power.
Frequently, I find my thoughts echoing the narrator's, "For hate is strong and mocks the song/Of peace on Earth, good will to men." And unfortunately, my cynical side has gotten a workout these past few years. Disappointment and frustration with family, friends, people in general, and the world at large are familiar companions these days.
I forget the promise of the Messiah in Isaiah 11.
“Then a shoot will grow from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.
The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
a Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a Spirit of counsel and strength,
a Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.
His delight will be in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge
by what he sees with his eyes,
he will not execute justice
by what he hears with his ears,
but he will judge the poor righteously
and execute justice for the oppressed of the land." (Isaiah 11:1-4a)
I forget Christ’s nature as revealed in John 1.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5)
I forget God’s dual warning and blessing in Revelation 22.
“‘Look, I am coming soon, and my reward is with me to repay each person according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end…I am the Root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.’” (Revelation 22:12-13, 16b)
This Christmas Day, let us not forget, "God is not dead nor does He sleep/The wrong shall fail, the right prevail/With peace on Earth, good will to men." We do not need to remain in despair when our God "became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14a), "so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16b). He came to us so that we could draw near to Him. The reality of God's love for us overwhelms any despair we see and experience in this world. But we are a forgetful people, so we need to keep drawing near to God. We need the yearly reminder of Christmas when God loved us so much that He drew near to us, bringing His goodness and peace.
May His joy and peace be ours.
Merry Christmas!
A Song – “I Heard the Bells;” “Joy to the World”
A Reading – John 1:1-18; Isaiah 11
A Poem- “Christmas Bells”
A Prayer –
O sweet Child of Bethlehem, grant that we may share with all our hearts in this profound mystery of Christmas. Put into the hearts of men and women this peace for which they sometimes seek so desperately and which you alone can give to them. Help them to know one another better, and to live as brothers and sisters, children of the same Father. Reveal to them also your beauty, holiness and purity. Awaken in their hearts love and gratitude for your infinite goodness. Join them all together in your love. And give us your heavenly peace. Amen.
