I didn't expect the December posts to be about music...but Pastor Annie says to post from my heart...and this is where I apparently am--following in love with another song as I really absorb the lyrics.
"Oh 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 appear'd and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees Oh hear the angel voices Oh night divine Oh night when Christ was born Oh night divine Oh night divine
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."
Two things stand out to me.
First, "the soul felt its worth."
Whose soul? What is its worth? Jesus coming to earth as a fragile baby is all about just how very valuable each and every one of us is. The world, things, and people might try to convince us otherwise, but our uniqueness, our fragility, our need for naps, our very humanness is what makes us so very precious and valuable.
What or who helps you feel your worth? Who can you bring light and love to in this season?
And the whole third verse:
"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."
It is a verse often omitted, but has been around since 1843. I take comfort that the "new to me" things I've been learning these last years that my faith tradition neglected to teach me have been part of even white Christianity for centuries (and more).
The Beloved Community, Shalom, God's Kingdom...are to be worlds where oppression is no more!
What would a world where we all wanted liberation, where all worked to end oppression of all forms look like? How could a weary world NOT rejoice at that?!
So I fall to my knees and continue to yearn and work for that world with Jesus' example as my guide. Because December should never be the only month that love and peace and justice beat in our hearts.
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