Glory to God in the Highest... the Wayfarer

11 months ago

Glory to God in the Highest

Luke 2:14

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Almost chosen for a title for today’s rumination was a beautiful hymn, written specifically for the lowly guitar by Joseph Mohr, in 1816, with accompanying music that is now recognized worldwide by Franz Xaver Gruber, in 1818 when flooding made the use of the organ in their church unusable.

Silent Night

Silent 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.

Silent night, Holy night,
Shepherds quake at the sight,
Glories stream from heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing alleluia;
Christ the Savior, is born!
Christ the 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.

I also include the original words, as the translation somewhat changed what was written, yet presented the hymn I grew up with the same reverence and beauty conveyed by the original.

German

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Alles schläft; einsam wacht
Nur das traute hochheilige Paar.
Holder Knabe im lockigen Haar,
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!
Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Hirten erst kundgemacht
Durch der Engel Halleluja,
Tönt es laut von fern und nah:
Christ, der Retter ist da!
Christ, der Retter ist da!

Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht,
Gottes Sohn, o wie lacht
Lieb' aus deinem göttlichen Mund
, Da uns schlägt die rettende Stund'.
Christ, in deiner Geburt!
Christ, in deiner Geburt!

German speakers will immediately identify those differences in what was conveyed, and will also recognize the importance of the lyrics conveying the gift that was given us through the birth of Christ, by both versions of the song, as well as the many other versions in use around the world still today.

I chose not to use the title from the hymn, not because of any malice toward those subtle differences, but because of the joy conveyed by the breaking of that silence that occurred, by the angels themselves, who could not remain silent as that precious gift was given.

The silence of that night is not to be as commemorated as its breakage, as silence needs to continue to be broken by all who recognize and accept the importance of that gift… The best commemoration is the loud breaking of that silence in hopes that the entire world will hear, remember what was given that night and fully accept that most precious of all gifts.

Paul’s epistle remind us of just what was given, the gift of God’s Grace, and by Whom it was given, as well as why it was a necessary gift that must be responded to.

Ephesians 2

King James Version (KJV)

2 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.

¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

¹¹ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

¹² That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

¹⁴ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;

¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

¹⁶ And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

¹⁷ And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

¹⁸ For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

¹⁹ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

²¹ In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

²² In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

The peace of that sleeping babe commemorated in song requires an awakening to the peace made available through His birth, life, ministry, sacrifice when that peace was rejected, and resurrection that is the means though which that peace is to be obtained by those who accept the gift given mankind that day, still available this day, unless rejected.

The angels that proclaimed the birth of Christ and wept at His crucifixion prepare to break their silence once again with the proclamation of His return.

That too will be a glorious breakage of silence for those who have accepted the good will first proclaimed through the grace delivered by that babe so long ago.

Let us proclaim the glory of that gift in advance of them as loudly and lovingly as the original proclamation… Let us anticipate with joy the coming proclamation of that return, and remember the promise of that proclamation as well as that precious babe is no longer a babe at all, but remains King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, the Savior proclaimed to shepherds of lowly estate, proclaimed BY them as well as they too could not remain silent in a world that needed to have that silence forever broken.

The angels could not, and will not remain silent, nor should we.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen

the Wayfarer