O Holy Night

This Christmas season has been busy, to say the least. Have you ever watched popcorn pop in a skillet? That's how I've felt the past week- that's what I've been doing. Popping here, popping there, going to this family party, eating with this grandparent, opening presents with the other grandparent, meeting my boyfriend's family, meeting the other side of my boyfriend's family, going from one town to the next day after day after day, a day here, a night there, a drive where? Oh yeah, there. It's been crazy! And with that tight schedule, I have to confess that I read the Christmas story only once. Once in the whole season, and it was sandwiched between hot spiced tea and The Polar Express on Christmas Eve. It's not supposed to be that way. One song, though, has by some unfathomable fluke has been in my head for the past two weeks strait: O Holy Night. And by having this song repeat over and over in my head, I've felt that I've come to better understand why Jesus came to earth, and why Christmas really matters. Redemption. One of literally my most favorite words in the English language, just because of it's connotations. The process of taking something worthless and making it valuable. That's what Jesus did. That's why He had to come to earth. To save us. To redeem us. To forgive us. To give us the opportunity for an abundant life. To give us that thrill of hope, to break our chains, to free us from bondage. That's why Christmas matters. So this song was playing in my head while Dad read the Christmas story on Christmas Eve, and the words of the song transposed over the words of the text to create a new melody, one that I haven't been able to get out of my head since. Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining. This is the night of our dear Savior's birth. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: you will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." A trill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men." Fall on your knees. Oh hear the angels' voices. So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us." And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Oh night divine! Oh night, when Christ was born. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. Oh night divine! Oh night, when Christ was born. But the story doesn't stop there. Truly He taught us to love one another. "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." His law is love and His gospel is peace. "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother. "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." And in His name all oppression shall cease. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we. Let all within us praise His holy name. "Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!" Christ is the Lord! Oh praise His name forever! "So when the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this is the Son of God!" His power and glory ever more proclaim. "And Mary said: My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior...For He who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation." His power and glory ever more proclaim. Christmas is important not because of family or love or giving or any of the other morally correct sub-reasons that are flung at us now, but because of the redemption that Jesus provided by being born in human form to a human family on a human planet. Verses are in New King James. In order of appearance: Luke 2:6-18 Matthew 5:44 John 14:27 John 3:17 Matthew 11:28-30 Matthew 21:9 Matthew 27:54 Luke 1:46, 47, 49, 50 Lyrics are O Holy Night by Point of Grace