A few days ago, I wrote how Diane and I have grown into Christmas carols in the recent past. Where once they were beautiful on their own, increasingly their meaning cuts to the core. It is one thing to listen to them on Pandora or Spotify. It is another to sing them surrounded by others who feel as we do. Regardless, some of them speak clearly to that which we most value. Of course, we have our favorites and I could probably name my top five. I can also name my number one as it combines both music and lyrics in a way that leaves me spent at the end. It is unabashedly Christian, for which I make no excuse.

It is O Holy Night.

As one of the most popular, it is performed by a long list of pop stars. Some renditions are soft, while others are rousing. (Celine Deion’s version is a keeper. It begins slowly, while reaching a stunning crescendo at the end.) There are not many verses altogether, unlike some other carols. In fact, there are only three, with the added choruses.

 

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

Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks the new and glorious morn.

 

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

O night divine

O night when Christ was born.

 

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.

 

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices.

O night divine

O night when Christ was born.

O night divine

O night divine.

 

The skeptic will, undoubtedly, find plenty with which to debate. The modern mind tends to scoff at the concept of sin, especially when spread across all of humanity. Many will find no thrill of hope and will be quick to point out the lack of new and glorious mornings. Perhaps the words in the second verse about breaking chains of slavery and ending oppression, of a gospel teaching peace and love, will resonate, but reality may quickly nullify such lofty ideals. Such perceived nullification will negate any draw to sing sweet hymns of joy. And, certainly, with such a mindset, there will be no praise to a holy name.

However, that is not a reality I live in, nor the reality where many of my friends and family live. Mine and ours is a different reality and there is only resounding truth expressed in these words.

In these pages, I try to strike a tone that expresses my heart and mind while respecting many differences. This is as honest as I can be.

But, I cannot be completely honest without saying that my only response to the reality of Jesus is to fall on my knees. To raise sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus. To live a gospel of peace and love, wherein the slave is my brother and all oppression shall cease. I have no compulsion other than to praise his holy name and to do so resoundingly. I do hear angel voices and know that my praises join with theirs.

The night we celebrate the birth of Jesus is, indeed, a holy night. A night divine.

I am taking the liberty of linking to a rendition of the song by one of my favorite Christian groups: Hillsong. It is not a soft rendition, punctuated as it is with an almost gospel flavor at moments.

God bless and Merry Christmas.