Christmas in our house starts early; we’re talking the weekend after Halloween early. I could give you all the reasons why, but really, it’s because it makes me happy. It brings me peace. And it reminds me of the hope that we claim through the birth of Jesus. Here we are now, less than a week before Christmas – and I find the peace that Christmas brings me even more necessary and impactful than even a few weeks ago.
It is important to recognize that regardless of how we are feeling about the world around us, there are many people who are feeling the opposite. So if you feel joy and excitement, may we remember that there are others who are feeling sorrow and despair. If you feel your hope in a thrilling, bright hope, keep in mind that there are others whose hope is slowly limping along. If I can be truly honest, it’s been a difficult season for my family. More difficult than words can express. And so I needed the hope of Christmas even more this year.
This morning on my commute I was listening to a random Christmas playlist. Of course I was singing along. But it felt almost half-hearted. So many of the songs were joyful and light-hearted. And then O Holy Night came on. While I was singing along, I was hit with a wall of emotions as the third verse came on, one that instantly silenced me as I heard these words in a new light.
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!
The particular rendition to which I was listening then repeated:
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices
His power and glory ever more proclaim
Jesus did not come to brag about winning, or to shun people who disagree with us. He did not come to judge and condemn the world. He did not come to raise violent rebellion, even when the world around him was choosing to ignore or even shun God and His Word.
And so regardless of how you are feeling as we move through this advent season, may you fall on your knees as you seek to remember who Jesus was and who he is today. I pray you are able to focus on what Jesus has truly called his people to do – to love one another, to bring peace to our world, to break chains of oppression in all forms, and to listen to how Jesus wants use you to show His example of love and peace and justice to those hurting and in pain – perhaps beginning with yourself, those within your family, within your community, within your country, and within your world.