For many of us, there is a lightness to this season, the tedium of everyday life seems dulled, and people are often friendlier.
But for some of us, Christmas is a time of sadness as we consider the loss of loved ones who were so much a part of previous celebrations.
And for others, Christmas is a time of greater stress, (asking) ‘how will I financially afford all that I would like to do?’.
It is then up to the community to help those who are struggling.
One of the traditions of Christmas is the singing of carols, and this year, there are many opportunities to take part in community events.
This suggests that it is not only churchgoers who enjoy singing their hearts out to celebrate the birth of Jesus.
I would like to reflect on one of our popular carols, ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’.
This carol was originally composed in the eighteenth century from possibly earlier texts, and its lyrics are what we might call ‘deep and meaningful’.
They explore the mystery of the birth of Christ on earth.
‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ tells of Jesus Christ being both human and divine.
Jesus is born of a woman and a loving God, born the king of angels, the Word of the Father now in flesh appearing, true God of true God, light of light eternal, Son of the Father, begotten not created.
We are also told that this child is for us sinners. So much to unpack to plumb the depth of meaning in these words.
This carol describes how the birth of Jesus Christ is no ordinary event.
That this baby is both human and divine will always be a mystery to us humans, but what it tells us is that in the child Jesus, God came to earth to be with us, to relate to us, to show us what God is like, and to bring us back to God through Jesus’ life on earth.
Jesus’ divine nature enables the forgiveness of our sin or wrongdoing which separates us from God, and for this we are more than entitled to sing our hearts out with all the citizens of heaven.
‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’ is a gift to us at Christmas and any time of the year.
It uncovers the mystery of Christmas for us to ponder.
May God speak to you through the words of this beautiful carol so that you might dwell in the awe and wonder of the birth of Jesus, the one whose coming in flesh brings life to us all.
By Echuca Moama Uniting Church Minister Rev Michele Lees
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