A Not So Silent Night

How many times in the past week have you been asked, “Are you ready for Christmas?” To be honest, I find it an annoying question. I’m sure it’s just me, being touchy, but I kind of want to come back with, “What if I’m not? Will it still happen? I mean, what’s the implication?” 

The question of being “ready for Christmas” seems spring-loaded with pressure, pretense, and, oftentimes, self-righteousness. I mean, how many people ask you, unless they already have their presents wrapped, their stockings hung and their gingerbread cookies frosted?

But I digress. And that was only the first paragraph. Hang on tight; this’ll be a wildly disorganized (but terribly authentic) ride! 

I realized recently (like a few minutes ago when I read that borderline hostile paragraph above), that maybe I should reframe this question in my own mind.  That is, rather than presuming people are out to shame me regarding my lack of readiness, I ponder what “being ready for Christmas” really means. 

When I was a kid, I used to know exactly when the “Christmas spirit" hit me. My parents were so kind to listen to my insufferable young self, droning on about how I “just didn’t feel it yet”. My mom especially enjoyed watching it play out and I have no doubt she prayed that God would give me that Christmas spirit each year. Usually what triggered it for me was a combination of snow,  Christmas lights, and Christmas carols. Sometimes it was a Christmas program at church. Music is a powerful way to connect spiritually, as we all know. I remember sitting in a dark room, the Christmas tree lights on, singing Christmas Carols together as a family as my mom played piano. This is what we did prior to opening presents and sometimes, the Christmas spirit would hit me then, right at the “last minute”. 

One song we would sing as a tradition was “Silent Night”. My whole life, I’ve marveled at the emotion it brings forth. Such a simple melody, really, but powerful and memorable. When I learned the origin of the song, I understood why. 

On Christmas Eve, 1818 in a church in Oberndorf, Austria, a Christmas mass was hours from starting. The choir had rehearsed and surely knew their parts well. Then it was discovered that the organ, which would drive the entire musical performance, was not working. 

It seems the church was “not ready for Christmas”. 

Enter Joseph Mohr, stage left (could’ve been right). This young and upcoming priest and musician did not lose heart;  he remembered a poem he had written two years prior, one beautiful, calm night. Like worship leaders today, he knew the importance of holding his plans loosely.  He went home to retrieve the poem, then, upon his return, charged the organist Franz Gruber with the task of putting it to music, only with a guitar (what with the organ being out of commission and all). Franz was reportedly both surprised and startled by the quality of the poem and, being a skilled organist, he was able to put a melody to the poem in just two hours! Maybe the best part is that masses were normally given in Latin, which most Austrians couldn’t understand, but this song was written in their native tongue (German)! That night, in a  church in Austria, a beautiful song rang out that would be translated later into other languages and sung around the world for hundreds of years to come.. No organ, just a guitar and the voices of a choir, (who had rehearsed a whole different set of music). Simple and profound- just as God intended! 

Sometimes, we lose sight of the true meaning of Christmas, don’t we? Our focus is put on lesser things than the reason for the season- the precious, humble, perfect little baby named Jesus who came to save a world of sinners like us. “Silent Night” was written following the Napoleonic wars. The continent of Europe was riddled with financial instability, famines, floods, and uncertainty of all kinds. Yet this dear priest was “ready for Christmas”, wasn’t he? Even when his hard work and dedication fell short due to circumstances beyond his control, it’s clear that his heart was to exalt the name of our Savior- Jesus. God bless him for not giving up and making it about him. 

Lord,  thank you for Christmas. Please remind us what it is truly about and forgive those of us who sometimes grumble and long for it to just be over with. Let that be an indicator light on the dashboard of our hearts that we are missing the point. Christmas is not what we often make it out to be. It’s not about putting pressure on ourselves, it’s not even about great food and drink, presents under the tree, and Christmas lights. Thank you for all those things; they aren’t wrong in and of themselves. But help us to remember the greatest gift of all. The gift that, were it not for him, we would all spend eternity separated from you. Thank you for Jesus! The Prince of Peace, Mighty God, God with us- Emmanuel! God, please capture our hearts this season. Soften us. Help us to love others who may be struggling by offering compassion and grace, serving as Jesus served, and loving as Jesus loved. Truly, you are our only hope, not only in this season but every season! Thank you, Jesus! Amen.