How can there be “Joy To the World” when there’s a lot sorrow on Earth?
How can there be ideas of sleigh bells jingling, chestnuts roasting on an open fireplace or Jack Frost nipping at our noses when warfare rages in Israel and Ukraine, and deep hatred of God’s chosen people continues seething in our nation’s streets?
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, one in every of America’s biggest poets, thought the identical precisely 160 years in the past.
On Christmas Day, 1863, the Civil War was a ravaging storm, ripping a gashing hole in the fabric of the Republic — while at the same time Longfellow suffered from personal tragedies.
Fanny, his wife of 18 years and the mother of his six children, had died in a fiery accident in their home after her dress caught fire from a lit candle. Longfellow’s son Charlie was critically injured fighting for the Union army near Washington, D.C.
“The Nativity,” circa 1406-10, by artist Lorenzo Monaco. In 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow penned his famous poem that has become a Christmas carol for the ages, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.” (Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
So on that day, the sound of the church bells heralding Christmas seemed to mock the very thought of “peace on Earth.”
Yet through his personal grief and the torment of a war that would claim nearly a million lives, Longfellow penned his famous poem that has become a Christmas carol for the ages, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”
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Each stanza of Longfellow’s poem ends with “peace on Earth, good will to men.”
Modern readers living in a post-women’s rights world shouldn’t take offense at the “good will to men.”
The poem takes the reader on a journey from how the bells herald the mirth in the traditions surrounding Christmas.
One, it’s referring to mankind — humanity — not specifically the male gender. And two, it’s based on the King James translation of the Bible, of Luke 2:14: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.”
The poem takes the reader on a journey from how the bells herald the mirth in the traditions surrounding Christmas: “Their old, familiar carols play/And wild and sweet.”
The words then repeat “Of peace on earth, good-will to men!” through the start of war and the blasts of bombs.
Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
“Because of Christmas, a new, category-busting power has come into the world, one not available for the tens of thousands of years of human existence before.” As wrote Wordsworth 160 years ago, “The Wrong shall fail, The Right prevail.” (iStock)
It then questions God’s existence and omnipotence.
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, good-will to men!”
Finally, through the din, it lets the bells speak of that one great truth.
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, good-will to men.”
One of our great misfortunes today comes from not letting the carols of Christmas take their rightful place of importance.
Advertisers use them to sell products and so we miss their true meaning. A phone company’s radio ad uses “Joy to the World” to hype a new phone plan.
As a substitute of “The Lord is come, let heaven and earth rejoice” — we now hear how a lot better one firm’s wi-fi plan is over one other.
How can a hurting world know joy’s powerful message of hope for a darkened world when advertising and marketing takes priority over the phrases, “He rules the world with truth and grace, No more let sin and sorrow grow … He comes to make His blessings flow, far as the curse is found.”
“It is only in carols that we truly understand Christmas — of the joy at the birth of Jesus, and also the somberness of what Jesus was born to do: to die.” (iStock)
The preferred Christmas carol utilized in advertising and marketing adverts is “Carol of the Bells.”
Few know its unique rhythmic lyrics: “Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away, Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, to young and old, meek and the bold.”
Every stanza is punctuated by the sounds of “ding, dong, ding, dong.”
Though its lyrics make no deep theological assertion concerning the beginning of Jesus, in accordance with GodTube, the biblical inspiration for “Carol of the Bells” has Outdated Testomony roots.
“Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away, Christmas is here, bringing good cheer, to young and old, meek and the bold.”
Right here is Zechariah 14:20: “And on that day there shall be inscribed on the bells of the horses, ‘Holy to the Lord.’ And the pots in the house of the Lord shall be as the bowls before the altar.”
The verses in Exodus 28:33-35 discuss concerning the bells ringing on Aaron’s gown as he ministers within the holy place earlier than the Lord.
And Psalm 150 says, “Let everything that has breath, praise the Lord.”
Widespread Christmas songs have their place, together with fantastic tunes like “Silver Bells,” “White Christmas” and “The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire).”
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Even songs about Rudolph, and Frosty the snowman, and strolling in a winter wonderland all heat our hearts during the holidays.
However it’s only in carols that we actually perceive Christmas — of the enjoyment on the beginning of Jesus, and likewise the somberness of what Jesus was born to do: to die.
“This Christmas Day, strain your ears, push aside the din of the culture, the city, the war, the pain … and hear the bells.” (iStock)
A very good instance is “What Child Is This,” which brings pleasure and sorrow poignantly collectively because it sees the sweetness and innocence of a tiny babe asleep on His mom’s lap: “What child is this who lays to rest on Mary’s lap is sleeping.”
But it nonetheless sings of the longer term sorrow: “Nails, spears, shall pierce Him through, the cross be born for me for you. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, the babe, the Son of Mary.”
That Jesus was born to die for our sins, to breach the chasm between God and humanity, is the enjoyment and sorrow of this season.
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There may be pleasure as a result of He left His glory apart to reside amongst us, abide with us, reside the life we could not reside.
And there’s sorrow as a result of our sin, the curse, was and is so nice that God Himself took the wrath of his personal judgment — and died the loss of life we deserve.
Carols make sense of why there are still wars and suffering at Christmas. Carols specific that the world is not the way in which it needs to be, however they offer us great hope in what it may very well be.
The carol “O come O come Emanuel” is a mournful tune, virtually funereal. But its chorus pleads, “Rejoice, Rejoice!”
Why? As a result of “Emanuel, shall come to thee, oh Israel.”
Emanuel means “God with us.” Which means due to Christmas, a brand new, category-busting energy has come into the world, one not accessible for the tens of 1000’s of years of human existence earlier than.
“Wars do bring death — but God through Jesus Christ has conquered death. And because God is now ‘with us,’ there is hope … even with a broken heart.” (iStock)
Grace and a love that surpasses all understanding is what turned accessible due to Christmas.
The story of Longfellow’s well-known poem is now the topic of a feature-length film, “I Heard the Bells,” accessible on demand by way of most cable and streaming platforms.
To an age of AI and pc expertise, slightly story a few nineteenth century poet could seem anachronistic.
Longfellow’s poem nonetheless bears the reality as a result of it was primarily based on divine actuality.
However bestselling writer and nationally syndicated columnist Cal Thomas notes that from his standpoint, issues by no means actually change.
Mentioned Thomas, “You can change hairstyles, clothes, styles, modes of transportation. You can even change politicians. But nothing really seems to change … A lot of that has to do with human nature.”
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Longfellow’s poem nonetheless bears the reality as a result of it was primarily based on divine actuality.
Sure, hate is powerful — however God’s love is stronger.
The story of Longfellow’s well-known poem is now the topic of a feature-length movie, “I Heard the Bells,” accessible on demand by way of most cable and streaming platforms. (iStock)
Wars do convey loss of life — however God by way of Jesus Christ has conquered loss of life.
And since God is now “with us,” there’s hope … even with a damaged coronary heart.
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And there’s triumph even amid tragedy.
This Christmas Day, pressure your ears, push apart the din of the tradition, town, the warfare, the ache … and listen to the bells.
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