Luke 2:14
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Portions of the following are taken from the book, Why This Jubilee, by James C. Howell.
“After visiting Jesus’ birthplace in 1865, Phillips Brooks penned his great carol, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem,’ and it is a treasury of quietness: ‘How still we see thee lie,’ ‘The silent stars go by,’ and then ‘How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is giv’n.’ A medieval tradition suggests that when Jesus was born a hush fell over all the earth for a full hour; even dogs did not bark.
Silence—a stranger we may have met but have since forgotten, neglected, or avoided. We have grown accustomed to so much racket! Maybe we prefer the noise; perhaps we fear that silence might blow through our hollow souls like a chill wind. But the wind might prove to be the Spirit of God—and God is a lover of silence.
In that little town of Bethlehem, lying so still, silent stars lingering over sleeping mortals, the wondrous gift of God’s own self was given. Some despair saying, ‘I can’t hear God saying anything to me.’ But silence is God’s language. The silence is God’s wish for peace in our souls and in the world.”
As we celebrate the coming of God’s Greatest Gift, may we incline our ears to hear His silence speak peace to our souls this Christmas. In the name of the One who came to provide the Way of Love. Amen.
