Pastor Chris
As we approach the blessed celebration of Christmas Eve and the birth of Jesus, I’m reminded of how deeply we connect this holy season to the gift of song. Many of us have Christmas carols that we hold dear, and these Christmas carols in some ways color how we imagine the scene of Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem, born of the virgin Mary. But if we’ve had any experience with childbirth and a baby’s first few days on earth, we know that some of our most cherished songs give us the wrong impression.
As a kid, one of my favorite Christmas songs was “Away in a Manger.” The version I learned had fun little motions to go along with it, and the song suggested a gentle calmness. After all, the song tells us, “the baby awakes, but little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes.” I don’t know about you, but when a baby – especially a newborn – wakes up, there’s usually a fair bit of crying, because the baby probably woke up hungry or uncomfortable. But this idea of holy stillness persists in other beloved carols as well.
One of my favorite moments of the Christmas season is singing “Silent Night” while holding a candle in a darkened sanctuary space. But as we’ve already established, Jesus probably wasn’t very quiet – especially in the moments after his birth. On top of that, shepherds – not well known for their manners at the time – come barging into where Jesus was born. Suddenly there are strangers in this space where we envision livestock alongside this newborn baby, and our imagined peaceful silence cannot be maintained. With a newborn baby and an unknown number of (probably smelly) visitors coming and going, with a tale of angels singing for God’s glory, it seems our silent night wasn’t all that silent after all. Holy? Definitely. Silent? Not so much.
But I deeply believe that the holy chaos of Jesus born in a manger in Bethlehem means more to us than the presumed peaceful silence that we idolize in this story. How many of us – especially if we’re actively involved in the raising of children – even remember what it is like to have a quiet Christmas season? Having an office adjacent to a preschool gives me a very important perspective on the excitement of the season, and reminds me that the chaos in my own at this time of the year probably isn’t uncommon. In some ways, it gives me hope to realize the holy moment of Jesus’ coming into the world probably wasn’t nearly as silent as the song might suggest. It reminds me that even in the chaos of this season (and as parent and pastor, there is definitely a lot going on), God’s salvation in Jesus Christ still comes to us.
So if you’re like me, and the idea of a silent Christmas is far removed from reality, know that this holiday still is full of holy moments. May you bear witness to the holy found in your life as we celebrate with noise and fanfare the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who comes down in the messiness of our world to bring all of us hope and joy in this holy season.
Pastor Chris