OH HOLY NIGHT

Today, in the second of three installments in our "Songs of Christmas" weekend series - I talked about the song 'Oh, Holy Night.' The lyrics were written by a Frenchman in 1847 who defected from the Catholic church and the music was written by a man who was a pagan. That kind of history enhances a song like that for me because it reminds me that the Gospel is SO POWERFUL that it can be channeled thru IMPERFECT people.

Just like 2 Corinthians 4:7 that says: “We have this treasure (the treasure of the presence of God) in jars of clay (that's US - frail, breakable humans, with cracks and leaks) to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” (Paul's focus here isn't on the CONTAINER so much as it is on the CONTENTS - God's power inside us).

The lyrics in the song remind us of some things: that there is a reason for our hope ('long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth') --- that we need to have reverence for God ('fall on your knees') --- and that we need right relationship with others ('truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace').

On Christmas Eve, 1906, for the first time in history a man’s voice was broadcast over the airwaves. Reginald Fessenden, a Pittsburgh University professor, spoke into a microphone and radio was born. The first words transmitted on a radio broadcast were: "And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.” A University professor read from the gospel of Luke. He didn’t know people were rushing to radios all over to catch this Christmas Eve miracle. Then, after finishing his recitation of the birth of Christ, the NEXT thing Reginald Fessenden did was pick up his violin and play “Oh, Holy Night,” the first song ever sent through the air waves.

And every time you sing it or hear it sung or played this season, maybe you'll remember the reason for our hope -- maybe you'll remember to give reverence to God -- and maybe you'll remember to share in the example of Christ by loving one another.

And be blessed.