by 
Tuesday, December 13
When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling
From It Came upon the Midnight Clear
By Joan H.
These words from Edmund Hamilton Sears’ hymn, “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”, are some of my favorite lyrics. Even in the heat of a summer day, the lyrics are a reminder of crisp, cold winter days and warm memories.
Can you envision coming out of church on Christmas Eve after the service? The air is clear and cold – there is a star-filled sky and a bright moon. With these words echoing, we can feel the words instead of just hearing them. It seems like a promise for a new day and also a new life. We can feel God’s promises as if they are ours as well. His promise to us for new life and the peace that we know can exist.
The heartbreaking tease that it is always just out of reach is the challenge to all of us. We have the promise in front of us; it is our charge to keep it in sight and work toward God’s vision. It is the political peace that seems so simple in concept and yet is so difficult, the peace promised for all humankind, the result of loving our neighbors and practicing true reconciliation; and the peace that we can practice each day in our own lives and in our own communities. The promise of Christmas peace that is sounded in this hymn can be a promise to ourselves: “When peace shall over all the earth its ancient splendors fling.”
Prayer: Faithful God, we pray that You will guide us in remembering Your promises to us and our promises to You. It is important that this Christmas attitude continues through the whole year, and not just for the few weeks of the holidays. Help us to keep in mind the goal of “peace . . . over all the earth” when activities around us make it hard to focus. Accept our grateful thanks for Your guidance and peaceful example. Amen
