My favorite moments of Christmas Eve are listening to O Holy Night and then getting to stand next to my mom as we all sing, Silent Night. Both carols help me to experience the true meaning of Christmas. O Holy Night shares the message that the birth of Jesus delivers the world from oppression and sin. Silent Night speaks to the peace, quiet, and holiness of the night that Christ was born. It might seem that the two contradict each other, Silent Night being about the quiet and stillness, and O Holy Night is talking about the angel voices and our voices singing hymns of joy. But both songs show how Christmas was then and is now.
That first Christmas was likely a stressful day for Mary and Joseph. First, their long travel to get to Bethlehem, then their attempts to find lodging, finally, having to face giving birth in a stable. With all the noise of the world around them, they found that none of that mattered when Jesus was born.
O Holy Night is the song we sing as we set aside the pains and struggles we’ve carried and approach the manger. Silent Night is the message for when we are with Jesus and we recognize that nothing else matters. As we worship and come together to sing Christmas carols, and share the message of Love born on Christmas, I encourage you to experience the Christmas story in your heart. Let the noise and busyness of life be set aside as you approach the manger and embrace the peace and holiness that Jesus came to bring to all.
Brooks Lambert, Ministry Intern
