You’ve seen ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures: so many images come to mind! But on this Holy Night, O Holy Night, what changed?
Is there a ‘before’ and an ‘after’?
How did Jesus’ coming alter our world, alter our very selves? The French Cantique de Noël, translated as the hymn O Holy Night, begins to answer that question.
The ‘before’ picture?
Sin and error, weariness, chains and enslavement, oppression. And the ‘after’ picture? A
thrill of hope…. A new and glorious morn… Love and peace and joy… And, perhaps most importantly, the soul felt its worth. When does a soul feel its worth? When it is found. When it is seen. When it is chosen. When it is
remembered. When it is favored. When it is forgiven. When it is set free of chains, liberated to
celebrate God’s love, a love that confers dignity and justice. We are all chosen; we are all loved, loved by
the God who took our sins to the cross for love of us. This is indeed a holy night, a night to
rejoice in the Savior who chooses us, each of us, and enfolds us in his
boundless love.
Listen, and really hear, this lovely rendition of O Holy Night, sung by a beautiful voice
some parishioners may recognize: Elaine
Dempsey, of Big Wide Grin, used to sing
in the Sunday 5:30pm choir at Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Her Christmas music is available on the CD Big Wide Holiday Grin.
O holy night, the stars
are brightly shining;
It is the night of our
dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin
and error pining,
Till He appeared 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, O hear
the angel voices!
O night divine, O night
when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O
night divine!
Led by the light of faith
serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His
cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star
sweetly gleaming,
Here came the wise men
from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus
in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to
be our friend!
Fall on your knees, O hear
the angel voices!
O night divine, O night
when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O
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!
Fall on your knees, O hear
the angel voices!
O night divine, O night
when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O
night divine!
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