Silent Night

Silent night, holy night
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child
Holy Infant so tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour is born
Christ, the Saviour is born

Silent night, holy night
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth "

Read the words...does it make you wonder why it was written? I was searching to find its history, but only that the author wrote it as a poem then asked it to be put to music. It is one of the most sung christmas carols. I love Christmas music...Patrick asks why we only listen to christmas music at Christmas?  Easter songs we sing all year, why not christmas songs?

If this carol was written to describe the night Jesus was born, then I'd say the first stanza is not a good description. Can you imagine a town that was so full of people that there was no room for Mary and Joseph? That many people are not silent, well unless they were different than Americans and Haitians. Smile. I'm not even sure it would be calm, not in the barn where Mary was in labor. Having the stench of animals while she is birthing a baby? This was not the clean barn and manger that our manger scenes depict today. It was dirty, smelly and animals around. 

But it was the "dawn of redeeming grace." The world didn't know. This night passed them by unaware, and things haven't changed. Jesus is still present today in so many situations, but it passes us by, we don't even realize. Sad. We are so busy with our life, that we miss His presence. 

There was only the dirty shepherds that heard the announcement...but that's a blog for another day...

God bless you