Christmas Eve was coming soon
The trees and windows dressed
With candles, wreaths and mistletoe
The crowds would be impressed.
But suddenly the organ broke
The leaders were dismayed
There would not be a song to sing
On this most special day.
Then in a moment of inspiration
The priest wrote down this song
And passed it to the organist
For music to play along.
So Franz and Joseph on that night
Put their two heads together
To bring about a song that would
Last through time and merryweather.
The hymn starts out so quietly
With talks of calm and brightness
The infant child is sleeping
The mother feels the lightness…
Of a moment set in time
That was poignant with oppression
A narcissistic king
Who was bent on wild destruction.
The shepherds quaked, the angels sang,
Let everyone rejoice
The Savior who was promised
Came to earth to give a voice…
To the presence of God in skin
The true King’s holy face
Its radiance streamed down from above
The dawn of redeeming grace!
So “Silent Night” was born that night
It speaks of “Holy Hush”
That came upon that stable
As sheepherders flocked in rush…
To gaze upon the beauty
Of the One who came to save
A baby sweet and innocent
A mother, oh so brave.
So light the small white candles,
And quiet your unsettled heart
And usher in the season
By doing your important part…
To bring a sign of tangible hope
A gift of time or financial care
For the ones who cannot fathom
An end to their nightmare.
For that is why He came to us
To rescue the poor in spirit
The beaten and downtrodden
We really need to hear it.
The kingdom of heaven is now
In the ways we offer care
It’s generous hospitality,
It’s not just “thoughts and prayers”.
Silent night, holy night
Please usher in Your presence
O Branch from the stump of Jesse
We need Love’s purest essence.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
AMEN.
Unsplash photo from Zach Lucero
