I love the anticipation of Christmas Eve & the atmosphere of Christmas Day. But there’s something welcoming about the quieter pace of Boxing Day & the un-named days thereafter between Christmas & New Year. Between the Old & New. ‘Twixmas’ they’ve recently been christened.
This gap can be a pause, to reflect & resolve. To quieten our hearts & still our souls.To listen to the angel song.
‘We need to find God, and He cannot be found in noise and restlessness.’
(Mother Theresa)
During the past week between work & rushed wrapping I was listening to a less well known Christmas carol written by Edmund Hamilton Sears in 1849:
‘It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth
To touch their harps of gold!
Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From heaven’s all gracious King!
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.’
In this rushing, digital world we need to shut out the cacophony of distractions.
Verse 3 of the carol has soothing words:
‘Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.’
Centuries ago on a star-spangled hillside near Bethlehem a choir of angels sang:
“Glory to God in the highest.And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”
(Luke 2:14 NKJV)
Gloria in excelsis Deo. Their words declared the resplendence of Almighty God. Their song proclaimed peace on earth & His goodwill to men.
Peace is not merely the absence of war, trouble or heartache. Peace is more than calmness in our personal life, or halcyon days on the world stage.
Rather, peace is the presence of God- the long promised Imanuel- God with us.
Before the angelic choir sang, the angel of The Lord said,”Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people”
(Luke2:10 NIV)
The angel reminded us there is no need to fear. There’s good news of great joy.
“Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
(Luke 2:11NIV)
Over two thousand years ago, the Promised One was born to seek & save the lost. To save us from ourselves. To save us from our sins.
We can rejoice in this truth at Christmas, & always. Now & forever.
So, in these days of Twixmas:
‘Rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.’
Blessings,
Ruthx
PS Listen to ‘A Christmas Hallelujah‘ by Cloverton
Blessed! 