This Christmas

According to composer/conductor John Conahan, when Joseph Mohr, a young Austrian priest, “went for a walk and he looked out over a very quiet, heavily winter laden town,” he began to form the words to the now beloved Christmas carol Silent Night.

It was first performed on Christmas Eve, 1818 in St. Nicholas Church in Oberndorf by Mohr and the choir director, Franz Xaver Gruber, who had written the melody.

Every Christmas carol has a story of origin, and it’s a delightful journey to explore them if it piques your interest.

Not being anything close to a musicologist or hymnologist, my own journey is that of a Christ-follower who fully embraces the sights, sounds, and smells of Christmas. As Advent approaches, I feel like the sap rises in my veins, and my soul begins to rejoice at the very thought of all that Christmas means and all the joys of celebrating this unique and cherished season.

I find particular inspiration in listening to Christmas music, beginning the day after Thanksgiving. My wife and I share this tradition, which continues until New Year’s Day.

Now, I understand there is a difference between Christmas carols and Christmas music. The former being based upon biblical accounts of the nativity and the fulfillment of prophecy, while the latter being less sacred in nature is rich in familiarity and tradition.

Our house still has lingering aromas of Thanksgiving turkey and all the other prized family favorites when either my wife, Kathryn, or I decide to call out, “Alexa, play Christmas classics.” And with that, the Advent season is ushered in!

Before you know it, we are bringing forth the wreaths, swags, and innumerable decorations that deck our halls. The chrysalis gives forth; the evergreen and holly are harvested as we transform our home into its annual garbs of yuletide expressions. The warm glow of candles harkens back to millennia of pre-electricity times to the strains of O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, filling every nook as the sound of popping cedar adds its earthy aroma, while it brightens our fireplace and warms our hearth.

Through Christmas, we continue traditions of celebrations that began in the heavens above the hills overlooking Bethlehem. And we celebrate promises made and kept by the God of Israel to Abraham and all his descendants, including us!

The Messiah was promised, and through the birth of Christ, all promises were kept.

George Fredrick Handel expressed it so very well in his work, Messiah, first performed in Dublin in 1742. From his Hallelujah Chorus, he gives us Isaiah 9:6 set to music that takes my breath away:

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the

Government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name

Shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The

everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

To you and yours, I wish you a . . . Joyous Christmas!