Silence
The air was clear and cold as they waited. The fields were barely covered with snow--just enough for pretty, but not enough to interfere with their plans. Traveling through the night they arrived at the country church light only by candle light and lanterns.
Arriving at the church, they waited for a few moments before leaving the warmth of the car. The silence wrapped itself around them. There were no sounds of houses, cars, televisions, radios, or even people talking. The world waited in silence.
Quietly leaving the car, they slowly closed the doors so as not to disturb the silent world. Walking to the church they could hear the wind gently rustling the remaining leaves on the trees, the quiet creak of limb rubbing against limb, the soft lowing of the cattle in the field beyond. The quietness wrapped them in a loving embrace.
As they came up the steps to enter the church, the door opened for them. The simple, one-room building was flooded with warmth from the wood burning stove and glowed with the warm light of candles and lanterns. Someone was quietly playing the piano and they made their way to the roughhewn wooden benches greeting neighbors and friends along the way.
Sliding onto a bench, they sat close, quietly sitting side-by-side soaking in the spirit of anticipation and joy before the service began. Someone began to sing the words of the carol being played. More voices joined in until they all sang:
For unto us a Child is born
Unto us a Son is given
And the government
Shall be upon His shoulder
And his name shall be called
Wonderful
Counselor
The Mighty God
The Everlasting Father
The Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Peace called to their hearts as the words of Luke 2 were read . . . "While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn."
As the reality of the gift of God in human flesh entering the world in quiet and stillness in a lowly stall of a stable settled into their hearts the reality of the world in which we live broke their hearts. Instead of silence, people starve. Instead of contemplation, people are persecuted, ignored, profiled, or belittled and ignored. Instead of recognized God with us, people rush from place to place spending what they can't afford to impress or buy another's love.
In the silence, God spoke through the words and music . . . through the scripture . . . through the birth of the one who created all there is. Slowly making their way forward, they partook or bread and wine--celebrating the ultimate sacrifice of God for creation and our reconciliation. Through the silence God spoke . . . speaks . . . drawing all creation into the warmth of God's loving embrace.
How silently, how silently, the wondrous Gift is giv'n;
So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His Heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming, but in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.
Loving God who came to us to save us from ourselves, enter our hearts in the quiet stillness today. Speak to us so that we may hear your voice--even in the silence. May our souls be meek and still so that you have a place to enter and live within. God bless us with peace this Christmas. So be it. Amen.
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