Real Hope: O Come Let Us Adore HimMuestra

Silent Night

Silent night (silent night)

Holy 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

EDITH BERGDAHL, JOSEPH MOHR, FRANZ GRUBER

When is the world actually silent? Never. It would take an incredible act of God for the world to be absent of all noise and that’s exactly what the carol Silent Night describes.

The birth of Jesus appears in many places in the Bible. Isaiah 7:14 talks about the fulfilment Jesus brings. Isaiah 9:6 foretells of His coming and significance. Daniel 7:13 prophesies about God’s gift of the divine man. Luke records more details than anyone else about Jesus’ birth – the angels declaring His birth to kings and shepherds, and angels singing praises to God. None of this is quiet, let alone silent. So, what does this carol allude to? As I sing it each year it takes me straight to a humble animal shelter where a young mother births God’s Son into the world. Labour is not quiet. I’m sure the animals around them were not quiet. It’s like when someone hits pause in the middle of an amazing moment in a movie. A moment that is so splendid you cannot move on without stopping to acknowledge and take note of every detail of this incredible thing happening!

Silent night. Holy night. All is calm. All is bright. Stop and take note, God is at work. He is bringing peace and hope in this moment! In this child who answers all the prayers of the world. That is what we’re singing about. That’s a moment worthy of hitting the pause button!

Written by KATIE SMITH