Advent is a season of waiting, preparation, and expectation for the incarnation of the Savior, Jesus Christ. Advent means “coming.” The mysterious beauty of the incarnation, God made flesh, captivates us. Not only does this season symbolize the expectation of Jesus’ first coming, but it is also a reflection of the longing of our hearts for the day when all things will be made new. The incarnation of Christ reveals this to us and is wonderfully portrayed through the age-old carol, O Holy Night.
I have wonderful memories of singing this beautiful song on Christmas Eve, and while there are many Advent and Christmas hymns that touch me, O Holy Night is the one that captures my heart. Truly, Christmas Eve would not be complete without singing O Holy Night. The music composition has huge swells that seem to lift you up to where the stars are brightly shining and carries you to the place that you want to fall on your knees in adoration.
One of my favorite memories took place at McFarlin Church in Norman, where we had a tradition that during the singing of this carol, as the lights dimmed, I would walk to the altar where the Christ candle held a place of honor and light the Christ candle as the music swelled to the words: A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. I don’t think there was ever a year when my eyes didn’t fill with tears during that moment.
What is this thrill of hope that the carol speaks of? Imagine the shepherds on that holy night, tending to their flocks in the stillness of the dark night. Suddenly, the angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. In that moment, the shepherds experience a thrill of hope, a sudden and overwhelming sense of expectation and anticipation.
Sometimes, hope can feel distant, like a flickering candle in the midst of darkness. But just as the shepherds experienced a thrill of hope in the presence of the divine, we too can experience hope when we draw near to God. It’s a hope that transcends our circumstances, a hope that assures us that even in our darkest moments, God is with us.
I pray that we carry with us the thrill of hope, sharing it with others who may be lost in the darkness. As we celebrate the birth of the One who is the source of all hope, the One who brings light into the darkness, may we be touched by the wonder of that Holy Night.
Rev. Linda Harker, Online Campus Pastor
