The song, O Holy Night is the epitome of the Advent season, leading up to Christmas and the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The words, taken from a poem written by Placide Cappeau, paint an intricate picture of that extraordinary night. Personally, when I hear this beautiful song, I am instantly transported through time.
It is a dark, serene evening in the Holy Land. Imagine a barren landscape that isn’t affected by the illumination of modern cities. If you have ever been able to escape large cities and have been given the gift to look up to the heavens and see the millions upon millions of stars in the sky, you can now picture the same imagery I see. The stars are shining brightly and Psalm 147:3 reminds us, He determines the number of the stars and calls them by name.
There is a thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices at the birth of Jesus Christ. A thrill of hope. I try to place myself in that moment many, many years ago and I immediately get goose bumps. Have you ever anticipated something so big and inconceivable that you were excited but didn’t honestly understand the impact it would have on your life? That is how I interpret the short but powerful phrase, thrill of hope.
We fall on our knees in adoration and praise for the birth of Jesus. As a child, I always wondered why you would fall to your knees. Wouldn’t it be painful? I never could comprehend the action to fall to my knees because a baby was born. By falling to our knees, we are showing humility to Jesus and affirmation of our hearts to our Lord. Worship takes on many forms and there is not a right or wrong way to worship. In this moment, the angels themselves lift their voices in joyous celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. The melody of their voices singing in unison is beyond compare and the purest music our ears could ever perceive.
Fall on your knees
O hear the angel voices
O night divine
O night when Christ was born
O night divine
O night, O night divine.
The song captures the essence of Advent, inviting us to reflect on the remarkable arrival of Jesus. It transports us to that miraculous night, encouraging us to kneel in devotion and praise, just as the angels did, as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that you and your loved ones remember that on that holy, divine night our Savior was born unto us.
Jocelyn Morgan, Edmond Campus Director of Children’s Ministry
