Our little Friday morning band gathered ten days ago at 7:30am as we do almost every week. Because dear Susan, in whose name and case we began over five years ago, was traveling, Diane and I happily opened our home. There were eight of us as six or so of the other regulars were either also out of town or unable to attend. Regardless of the number, it was a mighty collection of people, most of whom are either facing none-too-small challenges or who are closely connected to others who do. Yet, as always, our gathering was punctuated by laughter and love, appropriate to the counterpoint of the occasional tears which rightfully fall in our midst.

Our leader, Kiki, suggested that Diane and I pick the song which always acts as a connecting bridge between the early fellowship and updates and the core prayer segment to follow. We chose one of our favorite songs of this season and it is to that I turn now.

No one knows the exact date of Jesus’ birth. While there is substantial record of circumstances leading up to and surrounding his birth (and, of course, of his ministry some thirty years later), long tradition has settled on December 25. (Interestingly, Easter has a more concrete place in the annual calendar due to the events of Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and resurrection being intertwined with the Jewish Passover. In fact, the Last Supper was the Passover meal.) There are all sorts of reasons why we can’t pinpoint the date of his birth but that doesn’t mean a fixed date now is of less relevance. For centuries, we’ve observed December 25 and it still works.

For the public at large, Christmas Day is a holiday in this country and a chance to be with family and friends. It’s normal for children of all ages to open gifts in the morning although some families choose to do that the previous evening. Christmas has become as much a secular experience as one with the obvious Christian overtones. I have some mixed feelings about that but my feelings aren’t all that strong. I’m a fan of celebrating the finer things about what it means to be human, whatever the guise.

Having said that, I do have strong feelings about why I celebrate Christmas, which won’t be a surprise to anyone reading this. Fundamentally, it calls me into a degree of focus perhaps a bit more purposeful than at many other times during the year. I’m a practitioner of rhythms. Rhythms of the day and rhythms of the seasons. Some would say I’m borderline OCD because of how I like patterns. Perhaps patterns are a way of making sense of the chaos of life (certainly my last profession was about thriving amidst potential chaos). 🙂  Anyway, the weeks leading up to Christmas are especially profound in that they bring to the forefront the concept that God chose to invade human space so specially.

I may have mentioned before that, since 2005, I have set aside a three hour timeframe where I can sequester myself, don headphones and listen to the entire rendition of Handel’s Messiah, the masterpiece of putting scripture to music. For me, it is an extended prayer and now a fundamental piece of my patterned Christmas preparation.

I am reminded of this because today is Christmas Eve and the song we sang ten days ago in our little group is best recalled tonight. It is well known and performed in many different ways by countless artists. I have my favorites but it is the lyrics that require me to let all else go for the mighty truths they express. It is, of course, O Holy Night.

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! 

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

Now, these words will justifiably raise all sorts of questions. Obviously, the promise of a breaking new and glorious morn or a world governed by love and peace can ring flat. Our world is hardly ruled by love and peace and many mornings break seemingly without hope. The world still lies in sin and error pining. (Pining is synonymous with brokenheartedness.)

But, in the fourth line, Jesus appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. In other words, the Spirit of God in the hearts of men were like turbocharged, bringing that thrill of hope.

For that’s what Christmas morning is about. The thrill of hope. The thrill that the one whose law is love and whose gospel (good news) is peace shall triumph. And, in that triumph the chains will break and the slave (of course, we are all enslaved to one degree or another … the topic of a future reflection) will be our brother. Oppression, in this reality, is replaced with compassion and a servant’s heart.

No, the final chapter has yet to be written but the story is being written daily on our hearts with the promise of Christmas morning alive. I see it everywhere. To me, it is inescapable and I have no alternative but to rejoice and join in the grateful chorus.

Count me strange, but I take the resounding “Fall on your knees!” phrase literally as well as figuratively. I have no other posture by which I can face this God who loves me so. But, the cool thing is that from those knees, we rise up in praise and sing with abandon of his power and glory.

Many things distinguish Christmas Eve. We will be going to church later this afternoon, then gathering with some twenty-two family and close friends to feast and celebrate community. Our home is packed with people and dogs; Christmas music and decorations punctuating our spaces. We are most fortunate and it is time to set aside our cares and anxieties, if just briefly, in honor of the one who gives us so much.

If interested, you can find many different versions of this song on Spotify or YouTube. I’m holding out hope we sing it later today.

O Holy Night, thank you. Amen.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Love,

Brad