Christmas is one of my favorite times of year due, in large part, to the music! I’ve played and sung Christmas music every year since I was a child and so many of the songs never get old. As an adult, the music of Advent is especially meaningful. Advent is such a beautiful season of the church calendar as we reflect on the coming of Emmanuel – God with us.
A Christmas carol that has remained one of my favorites since childhood is O Holy Night, a beloved ‘standard’ in the Christmas music repertoire. As a musician, I am moved by the impressive vocal range and beautiful harmonies, demanding respectable vocal skill to perform. As a Christian, however, I am more deeply moved by the message of the song. Unlike many of our favorite Christmas hymns that proclaim the joys of our newborn Savior, O Holy Night tells a story of a broken and weary world whose hope is restored by a humble child in a manger.
The third verse is particularly moving: 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. Though we may live in a world full of suffering and inequality, we are reminded that Christ has taught us how to love, sharing with us the good news that is His enduring peace. We can rejoice as God’s family, celebrating the thrill of hope that Christ brings to us in Advent, knowing There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28
With the many people we encounter during the holiday season, I hope we can all enjoy sharing love and peace with everyone, just as Christ has shown us!
Dr. Hayden Coie, Worship and Music Associate
