Advent Devotional Dec 24: O Holy Night

O Holy Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3tUEBIypSA

 O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,

It is the night of our dear Saviour’s birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

‘Til He appear’d and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!

O night divine, O night when Christ was born;

O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

 

Truly He taught us to love one another;

His law is love and His gospel is peace.

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;

And in His name all oppression shall cease.

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

His power and glory evermore proclaim.

 

I would say more but these words really say it all, “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother; And in His name all oppression shall cease.” 

The question for us now is: are we willing to be taught this lesson?  What is our law?  What is our gospel?  When other people look on our life is the story they see have the major themes of love and peace?  Do we seek to free people from oppression… oppression of class wars and the oppression of abuse and addiction… oppression of religious turf wars and the oppression of a system of earning love and respect through achievement… oppression of nationalism and the oppression loneliness, disease, and bearing our burdens by our self.

And if we are not actively fighting these oppressions… than are we not making tonight’s birth meaningless?

O holy night… make it so! 

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