Songs of Christmas
“The word of God is alive and active. Sharper than a double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing the soul and the spirit, joints and marrow” (Hebrews 4:12). Scriptural words are at the heart of great Christmas carols. That is the magic that brings heaven before our eyes and lifts our spirits as we hear and sing Christmas carols.
“The virgin shall conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Emmanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). Emmanuel means God with us, and so we sing “O Come O Come, Emmanuel.”
Joy is the source or cause of delight. “Let all the trees of the forest dig in and reach high with songs of joy before the Eternal” (Psalm 96:11-12). So we resound with “Joy to the World.” A state of pure joy is to be merry. “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” let nothing you dismay. Christ our saviour was born this day.
“But you, Bethlehem of Ephrah…from you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people, Israel” (Micah 5:2). “O Little Town of Bethlehem” we sing. And above the hills of Bethlehem angelic voices were heard as we recall in “Hark the Herald Angels Sing.” Glory to the newborn king!
When John the Baptist was born, Zechariah’s tongue, which had been mute, burst into praise, and he couldn’t keep from shouting praise to God – “Zechariah’s Song.” We join in proclaiming that good news in “Go Tell It on the Mountain.”
Our faith journey begins with Christmas. “There never was a problem that could defeat sunrise or Christmas.” (from The Chinese Train 2017). God has given us many models of saints and fellow Christians to bolster our efforts in dispelling the darkness around us.
A heroic model for Christ is a priest Cajetan of Thiene (1516), who, just before midnight on Christmas Eve, experienced an indescribable joy. The altar and the entire creche were bathed in a dazzling light that did not blind him. In the light he saw the perfect vision of Mary holding Jesus. Mary stretched out her arms towards him, giving him the chance to touch the body of God.
Though you and I are not likely to experience miraculous encounters with God, we are called to play a simple, and dare I say, easier role in salvation history. Father Ken Koep, a priest in the Regina Archdiocese, explains about his calling to ministry. His simple realization at the time: “Where can you get a job where you go around giving people good news all of the time? It’s a gift!”
Recently in an episode of The Good Witch. A character asks a minister why he chose to become a chaplain. He relates his story. When he was a child, his mother took him to church every Sunday even though often he did not want to go.
When his mother became ill. A minister came to visit her and brought her much joy and comfort. The realization that our burdens are temporary and fleeting, compared to the eternal joy that awaits us, cemented his vocation.
So this is Christmas! Spreading the light that will help us avoid the shadows of darkness. In the children’s song “This little light of mine” we see the innocent spirit of children promising to let their light shine. Everywhere they go, they will let it shine so that we will all live in peace and harmony.
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