O Holy Night
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth. As I sang this song I’ve sung hundreds of time, I got chills. I stood in the choir loft, but I was thousands of miles and years away. I was there that night Mary gave birth to Jesus.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. Imagine with me. God created the world and all that is in it. Then He sends His Son to be born here to live among us. Those alive in that time had to have felt a change in the air. The King of all Kings is not just born without the rocks crying out. I bet people knew something was different. The song says the world was sitting around in sin, pining for something more. Then Christ came and gave meaning to our lives.
All of a sudden – A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. He is born and everything changes. Something is different. People can tell. Hope is in the air. The world, full of sin, sitting in darkness can see the light of a new day.
This is the part that gets me. Stand with me at the edge of that stable as Mary wraps her newborn son in swaddling clothes. There are tears in my eyes because I’m not sure if Mary knows or not, but that precious baby will die a brutal death on the cross because of me. My sin will put Him there. I cannot stand the thought of it. I am so unworthy.
Suddenly, I am in the fields. The air is brisk; it is night. The sky is dark, but the stars are twinkling. The only sounds I hear are those of the sheep bleating. Then, suddenly, a bright light flashes across the sky. I fall to the ground with the shepherds there in fear. I start to stand because, unlike the shepherds, I realize what is happening. I have read the story of the hosts of angels, and I am living out the ancient story. I raise my eyes and am frozen as I see the angels with gowns flowing. So beautiful. Then they begin to sing. My eyes fill and I fall to my knees again, this time in awe.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born.
The voices blend into most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard. Kneeling, I listen letting the notes seep deep inside of me. I hear one voice louder than the others. It is mine. I am in the choir loft again. Tears flow down my cheeks. I am singing out – O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
Thank you Lord for allowing me a glimpse of that Holy Night when Christ was born. Help me stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas. May I never forget the wonder of that first Christmas.
O Holy Night lyrics by Placide Cappeau.
