Let's Keep Christmas

"But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people." Luke 2:10

The Christmas lights and decorations are switched on along Orchard Road in Singapore for the festive season. The shops are loaded with goods and the streets aglow with Christmas decorations. Christmas is celebrated all over the world, the holiday and the most wonderful time of the year! It is celebrated by everybody; no matter one’s beliefs or culture.

BeckyAge2@Orchard Road, 1986

Now in its 40th year, Christmas on our shopping street is an annual light-up that transforms Orchard Road into a festive wonderland. 1985 was the first time Orchard Road was lit up. The Lee Family strolled down the brightly coloured streets when Rebecca was only 2 years old. 

There is a reason for this obsession with lights. This time of year in the Northern Hemisphere is the winter solstice. It is cold, damp, dark and dingy; the same conditions prevailed on that first Christmas in Bethlehem dark and dreary.

People needed something to lift up their spirits in the darkest day of winter which this year fell on 22nd December. On this day, the Chinese celebrate the Tang Yuan Festival by eating glutinous balls filled with peanuts, sesame seeds, or red beans in sweet peanut, almond or ginger soup. The Scandinavians celebrate 'Yule' with light and warmth at which time they burn the largest logs they could find to bathe in the warmth and light of the communal fire. They would cut down fir trees, the evergreens, and brought these trees into their homes to remind themselves that life persisted even in the darkest of times. 

Photo by Martin Ruegner on Getty Images

The Romans celebrated Saturnalia on the 25th Dec, a time of revelry in honour of the sun god. By the fourth century, the Christians had turned this pagan holiday from the feast day of the risen sun to that of the risen Son.

Modern traditions of Christmas are the carols, cards and Santa Clauses. Rudolph the red nose reindeer was a story written for the departmental store chain, Montgomery Ward to attract shoppers to its shops. The joy of opening gifts is a gleeful moment of every Christmas day. It is a sheer delight to see the glow and sparkle in little children's eyes when they open up their gifts. The glitter and the glow of this very commercial Christmas season entices people into believing that the message of Christmas is good tidings and good cheer for everyone. 

Now what is wrong with that? Isn't this the fulfillment of the prophecy of great joy which the angels gave to the shepherds? This joy and celebration is not a bad thing, it goes back to the sources of these holidays where at such times of cold, damp and loneliness people have needs. This year, 2023 especially, there is hardly anything nor any reason to celebrate with two major wars in the Gaza Strip and Ukraine. Covid-19 keeps coming back keeping us indoors and away from the crowds. 

But a celebration, both sacred and secular help relieve the stresses of these times. So, Christmas has become a cultural tradition for everyone, every year. I hope that this will not change for many more generations to come.

It is true that the commercialization of the Christmas can confuse its central message. What is Christmas all about?  In a Charlie Brown cartoon video, Linus  answers this question in a his most imitable manner.

Let us keep in mind the central message of Christmas - Christ came from heaven to earth and by His birth, God dwells among us. Share the good news! All religions teach of the hunger for God. What is uniquely Christian is that God reaches out to establish a warm and personal relationship. Emmanuel - God with us.

Worship of Shepherds 1539 Bronzino

'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' is an English Christmas carol written by Charles Wesley and George Whitfield in 1739. Charles Wesley was inspired by the sounds on church bells while walking to church on Christmas day. He started the first stanza with the words 'Hark.' His compatriot George Whitfield came up with closing phrase, 'the newborn King.' The current tune is adapted from Felix Mendelssohn's cantata, Festagang.

As we sing carols this Christmas, let us take the time to think about the message of the songs and the truths they proclaim. We can then join the Wesleys in singing "Glory to the newborn King.

1. Hark! The herald angels sing,
   “Glory to the newborn King;
   Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
   God and sinners reconciled!”
   Joyful, all ye nations rise,
   Join the triumph of the skies;
   With th’angelic host proclaim,
   “Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
   • Refrain:
     Hark! the herald angels sing,
     “Glory to the newborn King!”
2. Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
   Christ the everlasting Lord;
   Late in time, behold Him come,
   Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
   Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
   Hail th’incarnate Deity,
   Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
   Jesus our Emmanuel.
3. Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
   Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
   Light and life to all He brings,
   Ris’n with healing in His wings.
   Mild He lays His glory by,
   Born that man no more may die;
   Born to raise the sons of earth,
   Born to give them second birth.

So let's be inspired like Charles Wesley and celebrate Jesus' birthday. Come on Ring those Bells

Merry Christmas!

Lionel

Updated First published 25 Dec 2007

Similar posts on Contemplation

https://contemplation-lionel.blogspot.com/2022/12/peace-and-goodwill-to-all-men.html

https://contemplation-lionel.blogspot.com/2021/12/i-heard-bells-on-christmas-day.html

https://contemplation-lionel.blogspot.com/2020/12/what-can-i-give-to-him.html

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day

Church Bells, Corfu

'You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills will burst forth into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.' Isaiah 55:12

This will be the second Christmas we will have under Covid-19 restrictions. The shops bravely open and Orchard Road is lighted up. But I doubt that there will be much festivities this Christmas. The number of tourists will be almost negligible, there will be no singing of carols in the churches nor in the shops.

It will be quite a dismal celebration of Christmas. But these two years are not without precedence. Christmas was hardly celebrated in the two World Wars and during world crises throughout history.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, America's celebrated poet lived through a tragic Christmas season during the American Civil War, when he wrote the Christmas carol, 'I heard the Bells on Christmas Day.' in 1863. Bishop Gordon Wong introduced me to this carol in a recent sermon. 

I heard the bells on Christmas day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

I thought how, as the day had come

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along th' unbroken song

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong, and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; 

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, goodwill to men."

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

When we peruse the lyrics of the carol, we will probably conclude that this carol is most appropriate for this Covid-19 Christmas, although we are not sure how many church bells will be pealing on the 25 Dec 2021. The carol started with despair but ended in hope. 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Longfellow had fallen into a depression in 1861 when his wife Frances died in a fire. She had been sealing envelopes with hot wax when her clothes caught fire. The death marked a low point in Longfellow’s life. His physical appearance changed dramatically as he began growing his beard because the burns disfigured his face.

In 1863, Longfellow suffered another blow. His son Charley ran off to enlist in the 1st Massachusetts Artillery. In November, Charley was wounded in battle. Henry Longfellow was full of grief and started questioning the promise of peace announced at the first and every Christmas. In despair he wrote, 'There is no peace on earth, for hate is strong, and mocks the song of peace on earth good will to men. 

But in the pealing of the bells, he found a message that peace would come to the troubled nation as well as to Longfellow's troubled mind. He started a follow on stanza with the conclusion, 'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; The wrong shall fail, the right prevail. With peace on earth, the right prevail.' 

Longfellow's message was penned in the poem Christmas Bells. The Christian group Casting Crowns provided an updated version of the old carol.  

   

Christmas cards featuring the manger scene, with angels, shepherds and barn animals well positioned around the Holy Family give us the wrong impression that at the time of Jesus' birth it was a peaceful. In reality, Jesus lived through a time that was a powder keg for rebellion and terrorist activities. The Romans occupied Israel and with it came oppressive rule. The Judeans were subjected to tyrannical governors and puppet kings such as Pontius Pilate and Herod. Those times were anything but peaceful. Nevertheless Jesus' birth brought the hope for peace,

'For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government shall be on His shoulders. And He shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.' Isaiah 9:6-7 

How can we find peace despite dismal circumstances with every Christmas? Peace during turmoil? Perhaps it should first be found in a person. After having inner peace, we can be at peace with others. Father John Main (Ref 1) stated, 'Peace is a noble objective and a unifying one. In many of the sacred scriptures of both the eastern and western traditions this goal is described as the state of blessedness, of glory, of salvation or simply of life. The sense of being fully, humanly alive.' 

It takes courage to express a time for peace in the midst turmoil, crisis, disaster and war. Even so, every Christmas before, during and after wars and pandemics continues to express the message: Peace on earth, goodwill towards men. The Christmas bells rang out in the last stanza of the carol,

 

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, goodwill to men

Shalom!

Lionel

Ref 1. Paul Tharris and Laurence Freeman (editors), Silence and Stillness in Every Season, Daily Readings with John Main.

A Time for Peace

Sleep in Heavenly Peace

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" Matthew 5:9

In the late 1960s, Simon and Garfunkel made a recording of 'Silent Night' superimposed over the typical 7 o’clock news over the US TV channels. One cannot miss the sarcasm, sleeping in heavenly peace at such times?

Things have not changed. On the 16 Dec 2012 the world woke up to the headline news, 'Gunman kills 26 in US elementary school massacre'. What is so disturbing is that the victims included 20 five-year old children. On the 28 Oct 2018 a shooting in a Jewish Synagogue in Pittsburgh killed 11 victims while they were worshiping. One year earlier in Las Vegas 59 were shot dead and more than 500 injured after a gunman using automatic weapons fired on the crowd at a country music festival. On the 24 Dec 2019 protesters in Hong Kong who held a Silent Night protest march clashed violently with the police. This Christmas, the Covid-19 variant, Omicron, threatens the world.

We may cynically proclaim the irrelevancy of Christmas and its message of peace and goodwill among men.

The cornerstone of the United Nations quotes from Micah 4:3, 'They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nations shall not lift up sword against nations, neither shall they learn war any more.' 

But can peace can be achieved between nations when it cannot be achieved between individuals? Can peace between individuals be achieved when it is not found within a person?

A Chinese proverb reads

'If there there is a light in the soul,

There will be beauty in the person,

If there is beauty in the person,

There will be harmony in the house.

If there is harmony in the house,

There will be order in the nation,

If there is order in the nation,

There will be peace in the world.

Is there light at the end of this dark tunnel? 

 

'You (God) will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, is the Rock eternal.' Isaiah 26:3-4 

An individual at peace with God, is at peace with himself and with others. That peace frees us from fear and removes the barbs of our anxieties. This personal peace bring the most satisfaction, the greatest relief and the deepest comfort. There will be tranquility within. 

'The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.' Isaiah 32:17. 

In World War I, a Christmas Truce of 1914 was declared and the carol 'Silent Night' was sung. Along the war front, German and Allied troops downed their weapons and reached out their hands toward each other and exchanged Christmas greetings.

Let's make peace with each other, for God has given us this Benediction, His blessing of peace 

'The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Lionel

Updated article. 1st Published 17 Dec 2007

What Can I Give to Him?

' For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace' Isaiah 9:6

'Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!' 2 Cor 9:15

The Christmas of 2020 must surely be one of the bleakest Christmases in history. The news of the unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic hitting record highs in infections and deaths is unrelenting in the week leading to the 25 December 2020. A new highly infectious strain of the virus appeared in Britain, has crossed into Europe and threatens to spread throughout the globe. 

This season, governments are advising citizens not to go out to make merry, not even to meet in extended families to celebrate the Christmas. Christmas eve service in Bethlehem will not have a congregation. The Pope in the Vatican said Christmas mass without the usual crowded audience in St Peter's Square. Yesterday my family had our unusual virtual Christmas celebration on Zoom linking those of us from separate homes in Singapore, UK and the USA. 

The shops are depleted of customers. There is almost no Christmas shopping. No one is trying to go bargain hunting for gifts this Christmas. There will be many a disappointed young boy or girl who will not receive many, even any, Christmas presents.

The tradition of giving each other gifts during Christmas is symbolic of the gift of the Christ child at the first Christmas. It also signifies the act of adoration and giving of presents to the Jesus by the Magi who visited him guided by the star in the east.

Now that many of us will not be receiving gifts, we can ask ourselves whether these gifts, however expensive, really matter? Instead, can we offer to each other something of worth? Can we offer to Jesus something of real worth this Christmas?       

The Charis Methodist Church Choir rendered as a gift offering, a zoom virtual presentation of the song 'When I Kneel At The Manger Tonight' at our Covid-restricted, limited number, Worship Service on the 20 Dec 2020. The lyrics attempt answers to the question: What can I give to him? The real answer is, 'I have nothing to bring', nothing of worth, which is exactly what is happening with the lack of gift exchanges this Christmas. 

What can I give to Him, a heavenly King?
What can I give to Him? 

I have nothing to bring, but I'll offer my heart

When I kneel at the manger tonight

What can I give to Him, to honour His birth?

What can I give to Him?

I have nothing of worth, but I'll offer my heart

When I kneel at the manger tonight.

If I were as shepherd boy, I would give him a lamb

If I were a mighty king, I would give Him a golden ring

But what can I give to Him I have nothing at all?

What can I give to Him? 

Would my gift be too small, if I offer my heart

When I kneel at the manger tonight.

Is it necessary to bring a gift? What if you are too poor to buy one? The Christmas carol, 'The Little Drummer Boy' helps put to rest the dilemma that we are facing about gifts and their value on this gift-less Christmas. 

It is a tender story of a little boy who is told, apparently by the Magi, to go and see the new born Jesus bringing gifts to honour the baby. The boy is poor and doesn't have anything to give, so he offers to play his drum. His offering is accepted with Mary nodding her approval. The boy plays the best he can, and the infant King smiles at him.

Come they told me

A new born king to see

Our finest gifts we bring

To lay before the king

So to honor him

When we come

Little baby

I am a poor boy too

I have no gift to bring

That's fit to give our king

Shall I play for you

Mary nodded

The ox and lamb kept time

I played my drum for him

I played my best for him

Then He smiled at me

Me and my drum

In this  consumer-dominated world, we often value a person by the kind of gift  he brings. This Covid-19 Christmas will teach us that presents and gifts of whatever value and cost do not really matter. We can afford to strip Christmas of its commercial overtones. We can return to fully appreciating the real gift of Christmas, the gift of Jesus, an indescribable gift!

Lionel

Inspired by a sermon preached by Rev (Dr) Andrew Peh on 20 Dec 2020