Silent Night
Silent night, holy night
All is calm and 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 halleluiah
Christ the savior is born
Christ our savior 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
All is calm and 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 halleluiah
Christ the savior is born
Christ our savior 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
Reflection
This is probably the most famous Christmas song.
Congregations worldwide sing this Christmas carol as it has been translated into more than 140 languages. It was written by Father Joseph Mohr and first performed in 1818. There are many romanticized versions about its writing and
performance in 1818 with little evidence. It is true though that it was sung by French, English, and German troops during the World War I Christmas truce of 1914, as it was a song that everyone knew. This truce was a
series of unofficial ceasefires where troops celebrated
Christmas together and sang songs like Silent Night.
Although only sporadically there is hope that Christ can bring us together even in the depths of the worst of our humanity. Many of us live our lives with perpetual enemies.
Maybe this Christmas we can call a cease fire and let go and let God. We can find hope in the birth of Christ to let go of our grudges and sing about a Silent Night. What anger do you need to let go of and give to God?
